Overview
- BTS, which announced on Wednesday that it will not submit Arirang or other 2026 releases to the 2027 Grammys, said it rejected being classified by region or language and thanked fans for their support.
- Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. responded that the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category was created to expand recognition and said entries in that genre category do not automatically bar artists from general‑field awards.
- HYBE said the decision was made by BTS alone and that other artists on its labels remain free to enter the Grammy process, rejecting reports of a company‑wide boycott.
- The new Grammy category requires a significant use of one or more Asian languages, a rule that would exclude fully English songs on Arirang such as 'Swim' from that specific slot.
- BTS's move matters because the group holds five past Grammy nominations and has voting membership in the Recording Academy, so their withdrawal is a symbolic challenge that could shape how non‑English music is positioned at future awards and whether other major acts follow their lead.