South Korean supergroup BTS has announced that it will not submit its music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards.
The decision comes a month after the Recording Academy confirmed the introduction of a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category for the 2027 Grammy Awards.
In a statement shared on Instagram by all seven members, the group said it had decided not to participate in this year’s Grammy submission process.
“We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year,” the band said, adding, “I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.”
Reacting to the announcement, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said he respected the group’s decision despite being disappointed.
“I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision,” he said in a statement to CNN.
Mason Jr. noted that artists who submit work in genre-specific categories, including the new Asian pop category, remain eligible to enter the general field categories such as Record of the Year.
He explained that the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category was created to recognize the diversity and rapid growth of pop music from Asia.
“The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists,” he said.
The Recording Academy recently announced five new award categories for the 69th Grammy Awards, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance, which will debut at the ceremony scheduled for February 7, 2027.
The addition has generated mixed reactions among fans and music industry observers. While some welcomed the move as greater recognition for Asian artists, others argued it could inadvertently separate them from mainstream pop categories rather than promote greater inclusion.
Some fans also speculated that the new category was introduced ahead of BTS’ anticipated return as a full group.
Since debuting in 2013, BTS has become one of the world’s most successful music acts, earning multiple Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards and other international accolades, including becoming the most-awarded group in Billboard Music Awards history.