Global K-pop phenomenon BTS has officially announced that they will not submit their record-breaking comeback album Arirang or any of its tracks for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards.
The collective decision was shared simultaneously across all seven members’ individual Instagram Stories. The statement comes directly on the heels of the Recording Academy’s introduction of five new competitive fields for the 69th Annual Grammy Awards most notably the controversial Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
All seven members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook posted a unified statement emphasizing that artistic evaluation should transcend geographic and linguistic barriers:
“We have decided not to submit our music to the Grammys this year,” the members shared. “We hope music can be heard and loved as music itself, rather than being distinguished by region or language. Thank you to ARMY and everyone who is always with us.”
Industry Backlash: The Recording Academy’s new category—designed for K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop—faced immediate criticism from fans and industry analysts who argue it serves to isolate Asian acts from main-tier categories like Album of the Year or Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
Massive Success of Arirang: BTS’s boycott comes despite their fifth studio album Arirang achieving monumental global success, debuting atop the Billboard 200 with over 641,000 units sold in its opening week following their military discharge.
Grammy History: While BTS has previously earned five Grammy nominations, the group has expressed a desire to be judged alongside general pop entries rather than segregated into genre or regional boxes.
The group’s choice to skip submissions marks one of the strongest stance-taking moments in recent pop music history. By opting out of the industry’s most prestigious awards, BTS reinforces their core philosophy: that music is a universal language capable of connecting people across all borders.
