BTS have announced that they will not submit their music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards, making a powerful statement just weeks after the Recording Academy introduced a new category recognizing Asian music. The decision was shared simultaneously by all seven members through Instagram Stories, accompanied by a message emphasizing artistic equality over regional classifications.
“We’ve decided not to submit our work for this year’s Grammy Awards,” the group wrote. “We hope music will be recognized and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. Thank you, as always, to ARMY and everyone who supports.”
The announcement immediately sparked widespread discussion across the music industry, particularly given BTS’ position as one of this year’s strongest Grammy contenders. Their blockbuster album ARIRANG had been widely viewed as a potential nominee for Album of the Year, while several tracks were considered competitive in Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The group also would have been eligible for the newly introduced Asian-focused category, yet chose not to participate in the submission process altogether.
HYBE later clarified that the move is not part of a company-wide boycott of the Recording Academy. According to the label, other HYBE artists will continue submitting their work individually, while BTS reached their decision independently after extensive discussions. The company added that the members wanted to “protect the status and pride of the K-pop industry as a whole,” framing the decision as one based on principle rather than opposition to the awards themselves.
The timing makes the announcement particularly significant. Released on March 20, 2026, ARIRANG marked BTS’ long-awaited reunion following the completion of every member’s mandatory military service and their first studio album in nearly six years after Be (2020). Featuring collaborations with producers and songwriters including Pdogg, Diplo, El Guincho, Ryan Tedder, Kevin Parker, Mike Will Made-It, Artemas and JPEGMAFIA, the project quickly became one of the defining albums of 2026.
Commercially, ARIRANG dominated worldwide. The album debuted at No. 1 in more than 25 countries, became BTS’ seventh Billboard 200 chart-topper, and broke streaming records across Spotify and Apple Music. It also emerged as the group’s best-selling Korean-language album in Japan while reaching No. 1 across major European markets, including the United Kingdom.
The decision also arrives while BTS remain in the middle of their ambitious Arirang World Tour, which launched in April and is scheduled to continue through March 2027.
Leave a Reply