BTS boycotts 2027 Grammy Awards in protest of new Asian music category

The South Korean group BTS announced that it would not participate in the 2027 Grammy Awards, protesting the introduction of new categories, including one dedicated to Asian pop music, a move that sparked widespread debate within the music community.

In messages posted on their Instagram accounts, the group’s members affirmed that they prefer their musical works to be judged based on artistic merit, rather than classifications tied to language or geographic region.

For its part, the Recording Academy, the organizing body behind the Grammy Awards, expressed regret over the decision, clarifying that the creation of an Asian pop category aims to highlight the diversity and flourishing of musical creativity in Asia, not to isolate artists.

Last June, the Academy announced the addition of five new categories, a decision that drew mixed reactions. Some followers viewed it as granting Asian music greater recognition, while others argued it could lead to the segregation of Asian artists from direct competition with their peers in the general categories.