BTS opts out of 2027 Grammy submissions as Recording Academy unveils Best Asian Pop Music Performance category

South Korean pop group BTS said on July 29 that it will not submit its latest album, ARIRANG, or any of its tracks for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. The members posted identical Korean-language statements on Instagram, adding that they hope their music will be appreciated without being divided by region or language.

The announcement came a little more than a month after the Recording Academy introduced a Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which recognizes vocal singles or tracks that originate from Asian markets and include at least one Asian language. The new category is limited to individual tracks, not full albums, and excludes recordings performed entirely in English.

"Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said, noting that an artist can pursue both specialized and general-field nominations.

BTS did not label its decision a boycott, and its label HYBE clarified that other artists under the company may still submit entries. The group has previously received five Grammy nominations but has never secured a win, and ARIRANG debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 641,000 equivalent units in its first week.

Industry observers note that the new category could provide an additional pathway for Asian pop acts, though it also raises questions about how labels will navigate submission rules that limit a track to a single specialized field. The broader impact of the category will become clearer as the Academy’s screening committees and voters evaluate eligible recordings in future award cycles.