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BTS Boycott the Grammys, But Will Other Artists Follow?
BTS have announced they will not submit their work for Grammy consideration this year, shortly after the Recording Academy introduced a Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. The decision has been interpreted as a rejection of being separated by region or language rather than judged in major general categories, intensifying debate over how the Grammys recognise global pop artists.
The group made the statement in Korean on 29 July, following the success of their March comeback album, Arirang, after completing military service. Grammy chief Harvey Mason Jr said he was saddened and described the new category as a way to recognise Asian pop artistry, while experts say BTS’s exceptional global standing makes a wider boycott unlikely; HYBE reportedly plans to keep submitting other artists’ work. Fans and several Korean and Korean-American creatives have publicly supported BTS’s stance.
In short
- BTS will not submit music for Grammy consideration.
- The move challenges regional categorisation at the awards.
- Other Asian artists may be unlikely to follow.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A region-specific category segregates Asian artists by geography or ethnicity rather than judging them alongside other pop artists in mainstream categories. This proves particularly troubling for an artist of BTS's demonstrable global stature, whose commercial dominance shows they compete at the highest level worldwide. Creating a dedicated regional category, however well-intentioned, implies Asian artists are fundamentally different from other pop performers, implicitly suggesting they belong in a separate tier and perpetuating their status as 'other' rather than simply excellent pop artists deserving equal consideration.
The case against
The category recognises Asian pop music, which has historically received insufficient recognition in major Grammy categories despite extraordinary artistry and global commercial success. Creating a dedicated award represents inclusion, not exclusion, ensuring Asian pop artists finally gain accolades they have been wrongly denied. The category does not prevent artists from submitting to other categories; it simply adds an additional pathway to recognition for a community historically marginalised by mainstream awards bodies, following established practice across award systems.
Explained simply
The Grammys are awards run by the US Recording Academy, which honours recorded music across many genres. Artists and record companies submit eligible work, and Academy members vote on the nominees and winners.
BTS are a South Korean pop group with a large international audience. The debate centres on how the awards recognise music made outside the English-language mainstream, and whether a category based on region or language gives artists visibility or keeps them apart from broader awards.
The Recording Academy says its new Asian pop category is intended to recognise that music. BTS’s decision has drawn support from some fans and music creatives, while the group’s global profile has prompted discussion about whether other artists might take a similar position.
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