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BTS’ Grammy Decision: Was the Band Getting Ahead of Another Awards Show Sidelining? (Critic’s Take)
BTS have said they will not submit music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards, arguing that music should be appreciated without being divided by region or language. The decision is presented as a measured response to a wider pattern in which major Western award shows have created K-pop-specific categories before recognising the group in established, high-profile awards.
The article points to the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, when BTS were first honoured in a new best K-pop category despite setting major YouTube viewing records. “Boy With Luv”, featuring Halsey, drew 74.6 million views in 24 hours, while “IDOL” had previously reached 45.9 million; BTS were only nominated in a main VMA category in 2020, when “ON” competed for best pop. HYBE said the Grammys decision is not a company-wide boycott and that neither BTS nor the label has asked others to follow.
In short
- BTS will not enter music for the 69th Grammys.
- The article links this to K-pop’s separate-category treatment.
- HYBE says it is not a wider boycott.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The strongest case for BTS's position emphasises that major Western award shows have created segregated categories specifically based on geography and language, preventing equal consideration within mainstream categories. Unlike established genre categories (country, rap, rock) which remain origin-agnostic, K-pop categories apply distinctions asymmetrically to non-Western artists. BTS's argument that music should be evaluated without such geographic or linguistic divisions represents a principled stance against what they perceive as systemic inequality in how artistic merit is assessed across cultural backgrounds.
The case against
A compelling counterargument contends that K-pop-specific categories function analogously to long-established genre categories (country, rap, rock), recognising K-pop as a distinct musical and cultural tradition with its own production aesthetics. These categories potentially increase visibility and recognition opportunities for K-pop artists within major award systems. Boycotting competitions forgoes recognition pathways rather than addressing structural concerns. Furthermore, celebrating cultural musical distinctiveness through categorisation need not constitute discrimination—it can reflect pluralistic recognition of diverse global artistic traditions and offer pathways to recognition that might not otherwise exist.
Explained simply
The Grammys are US music awards run by the Recording Academy, which considers entries across genres and categories. BTS are a South Korean group whose music has reached a large international audience, including through streaming and online video.
Some Western award shows have introduced categories specifically for K-pop, while BTS have also sought recognition in broader categories. HYBE, the company that manages BTS, says the group’s Grammy decision is theirs alone and is not a wider boycott.