BTS Boycott Prompts Grammy Review of New “Best Asian Pop Music Performance” Category

On July 29, the seven-member South Korean group BTS announced that it would not submit its new album for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards. The boycott is a protest against the Recording Academy’s newly announced “Best Asian Pop Music Performance” category, which groups music from K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and other Asian languages into a separate award.

South China Morning PostBTS boycott shakes Grammy walls as Recording Academy signals rethink of 'Asian Pop' category BTS Boycott or White Flag? Grammys Reconsider Controversial 'Asian Pop' Category [Star Issue] Express Tribune

The Grammy Awards have traditionally been dominated by Western artists. Critics argued that the category could isolate Asian artists from the General Field awards and the main Pop categories.

BTS boycott shakes Grammy walls as Recording Academy signals rethink of 'Asian Pop' category

• June 2026 – Announcement of the “Best Asian Pop Music Performance” category.

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• July 29, 2026 – BTS publicly declares its boycott and refuses to submit its album.

BTS boycott shakes Grammy walls as Recording Academy signals rethink of 'Asian Pop' category

• August 1, 2026 – BTS performs on their “Arirang” tour in New Jersey.

South China Morning Post

• October 12, 2026 – First-round Grammy voting is scheduled to begin.

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• BTS has received six Grammy nominations to date, including three in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category. All nominations resulted in losses.

South China Morning Post

• The Grammys now feature more than 100 award categories, prompting the Academy to reassess how new categories are developed.

BTS boycott shakes Grammy walls as Recording Academy signals rethink of 'Asian Pop' category

• Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy – In an official statement, Mason Jr. said the organization “exists to serve all music people.”

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• BTS – The group’s statement emphasized a desire for music to be judged on artistry rather than regional or linguistic labels and thanked their fanbase, ARMY.

BTS boycott shakes Grammy walls as Recording Academy signals rethink of 'Asian Pop' category

• The Recording Academy’s official account – Expressed sadness over BTS’s decision but affirmed respect for the group’s choice as “music creators.”

BTS boycott shakes Grammy walls as Recording Academy signals rethink of 'Asian Pop' category

BTS’s boycott serves as the primary criticism of the new category. The group argues that separating Asian pop into its own award risks marginalizing the genre and reinforces a regional divide. Industry observers contend that the category could diminish Asian artists’ chances in the Grammys’ most prestigious fields.

BTS boycott shakes Grammy walls as Recording Academy signals rethink of 'Asian Pop' category

Sources differ on the likely outcome of the Academy’s review. Some reports suggest the category could be renamed or have its eligibility rules altered, while others indicate the possibility of scrapping the category for the February 2027 ceremony. No definitive decision has been announced, and the impact on the upcoming October 12 voting remains unclear.

BTS boycott shakes Grammy walls as Recording Academy signals rethink of 'Asian Pop' category

The Recording Academy is holding emergency meetings with representatives from K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and Indian music communities, as well as with BTS’s agency HYBE. The Academy has convened its full board of trustees and nominations committee to consider revisions to the category’s name and criteria before the next Grammy cycle.

BTS boycott shakes Grammy walls as Recording Academy signals rethink of 'Asian Pop' category

• “The Grammy organization exists to serve all music people, and part of that is working to ensure that no voice or community gets overlooked or misunderstood,” — Harvey Mason Jr., Recording Academy CEO

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