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‘Divided by region or language’: BTS rebuke Grammys as they withdraw from consideration
BTS have withdrawn themselves from consideration at the 2027 Grammy awards, appearing to object to the Recording Academy's newly announced best Asian pop music performance category. In an Instagram statement, all seven members of the South Korean group said they hoped music could "be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language," a pointed but gently worded criticism of the new award, which was unveiled last month alongside a similarly regional best Latin song category.
The Recording Academy said the new categories responded to calls from the music community for more opportunities to celebrate emerging genres, though critics have noted that Asian and Latin pop are long-established, high-revenue markets rather than "new" scenes, fuelling concern that the category could sideline Asian artists from the main awards. BTS's Korean-language album Arirang would likely have qualified given the category's requirement for "meaningful use" of an Asian language, unlike recent hits such as Golden and Rosé's APT, which are largely in English. K-pop acts had a strong showing at this year's ceremony, with Golden winning best song written for visual media, but the group's withdrawal signals unease within the Asian pop sphere about the new classification ahead of the ceremony on 7 February in Los Angeles.
In short
- BTS withdraw from 2027 Grammys over new Asian pop category
- Group says music shouldn't be "divided by region or language"
- Category seen as risking sidelining Asian pop from main awards
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those sympathetic to BTS's stance argue that carving out a separate 'Best Asian Pop' category risks segregating artists by geography or language rather than judging them on musical merit alongside their peers. They see it as reinforcing the idea that non-Western acts belong in a niche box rather than competing for the same top honours as Western pop stars, even after years of chart-topping global success that arguably earned them a place in the mainstream categories.
The case against
Those who welcome the new category argue it reflects a genuine effort by the Grammys to recognise the breadth and specificity of Asian pop as a distinct artistic tradition, much as other genre categories exist to honour styles that might otherwise be overlooked in broad, crowded fields. Advocates say dedicated categories can increase visibility and award opportunities for a wider range of Asian artists, not just the handful big enough to compete head-to-head with major Western acts, and that recognising regional traditions is a form of respect rather than exclusion.
Explained simply
BTS is a seven-member South Korean pop group and one of the world's biggest music acts. The Grammy Awards are the music industry's most prestigious annual ceremony, celebrating excellence across all genres of music.
The Recording Academy, which runs the Grammys, introduced a new award category for best Asian pop music performance, alongside a separate one for Latin music. The move sparked concern that it could push Asian pop artists away from the main Grammy categories, where the greatest prestige and attention are concentrated.
Asian pop represents a well-established global market and major industry, not an emerging genre, so critics worry regional categories could marginalise rather than celebrate these artists. The concern is significant enough that BTS, among the world's biggest acts, have chosen not to participate in the 2027 Grammy Awards.
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