BTS Opts Out of 2027 Grammy Awards Submission

The global K-pop group BTS announced its decision not to submit music for the 2027 Grammy Awards due to concerns over category divisions. In a statement, BTS expressed a desire for music to be appreciated on its own merit, instead of being separated by region or language.

BTS members—RM, Jimin, V, Suga, Jungkook, Jin, and J-Hope—shared identical statements on their Instagram accounts. The message urged that music should be enjoyed and valued for its artistic quality.

The Recording Academy did not provide any immediate comment following BTS’s announcement.

Expectations were high for BTS to receive nominations for prestigious awards, including Album of the Year, at the upcoming 69th Grammy Awards. The band’s latest album, “Arirang,” has been a commercial success, with the lead single “Swim” reaching the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

The Recording Academy introduced new award categories to promote inclusivity. Nonetheless, under these changes, the song “Swim” might not qualify for the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. The Academy requires that songs competing in this category must prominently feature Asian languages. Despite many BTS tracks being in Korean, “Swim” is primarily performed in English.

According to the Grammy Awards rulebook, there must be a significant use of Asian languages in songs to be eligible in the new category.

BTS, which debuted in 2013, became the first K-pop group to earn a Grammy nomination, with five nominations to date. Despite these nominations, the band has yet to secure a win. They have a strong global presence, having even performed at the World Cup final halftime show in the United States.

BTS expressed gratitude towards their dedicated fanbase, known as the Army, acknowledging their constant support and presence.