BTS have announced their withdrawal from the 69th Grammy Awards' nominations.
The news drew significant attention as the announcement comes shortly after BTS's official reunion this year.
The 69th Grammy Awards will be held on 7 February 2027.
All members of the internationally acclaimed K-pop group BTS have announced their parting ways with the upcoming 69th Grammy Awards. Here’s why.
The 2027 Grammy Awards have barely begun, and one of music’s most internationally acclaimed bands has opted out of the ceremony’s awards race altogether. This week, all seven members of BTS — RM, Suga, Jin, J-Hope, Jimmy, V, and Jungkook, have all released the following statement to withdraw from the Grammys: “We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year. I hope music itself can be heard and loved rather than being distinguished by region or language.”
The move follows the Grammy Awards’ announcement to introduce a series of new categories in the coming year, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance — which many have taken to mean a segregation of Asian talents from the biggest awards, such as Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, during the awards season.
In response, Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, released the following statement for clarification: “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.”
“I do want to clarify something that seems to be getting lost in the conversation. 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. More categories mean more artists’ work is recognised,” he continues.
Mason Jr. also mentioned that the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category doesn’t exclude its winner or nominees from the night’s biggest accolades. Still, the internet remains divided on the matter of the supposed Asian exclusion. Many have pointed out the lack of categories specifically highlighting European musicians only.
The collective sentiment by BTS hits especially hard, as the South Korean boyband have just reunited as a complete unit following the end of their military enlistments. This year also marked the launch of their widely acclaimed album Arirang, which clinched the top spot on the most important global music charts. This July also saw BTS’s official return to the stage performing at the World Cup finals.
In light of this latest unravelling, it remains to be seen whether either party would consider changes for what comes next.
The next Annual Grammy Awards will be held on 7 February 2027.
Contact: @bts.bighitofficial