“We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year,” the band said in a statement shared on Instagram by all seven members, adding: “I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.”
Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a statement to CNN: “I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision.”
He said that artists who submit music in a genre category, such as Asian pop, can also submit in the general field categories, such as Record of the Year.
Mason Jr. added: “The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists.”
BTS have enjoyed massive success since forming in 2010. They picked up the Billboard Music Award (BBMA) for Top Social Artist five times between 2017 and 2021, were named Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards in 2021 and 2026, and became the most awarded group in BBMA history in 2022.
But some fans fear the introduction of an award defined by geography minimizes the value of artists’ work.
BTS “incapsulate everything I love about music,” Will Scragg, 27, told CNN. The English superfan has seen the band twice this summer — once in his hometown of London and again traveling overseas to Munich.
“I really appreciate the amount of effort they put into everything. They truly love performing, and witnessing all of that live is such an amazing and worthwhile experience.”
Scragg supports BTS’ decision to abstain from Grammy consideration — despite admitting he had expected the band to rack up a number of Grammy nominations this time.
Their sixth Korean-language album, “Arirang,” stormed the international charts when it was released back in March, debuting at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and reaching the top spot in 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan.
Scragg said he was “disappointed, and a little confused” when he heard the Grammys planned to launch an Asian music category.
“I feel like it’s a way to keep BTS out of the main, more prestigious, categories,” Scragg explained. “It feels like it’s a way to sideline Asian artists.”
Scragg said he recognizes that narrower categories like the Asian award can be a great way for lesser-known artists to receive attention on a global stage. But he argues that BTS has already exceeded that level and said he respects the band for their dignified stance.
Scragg is not the only fan who thinks the decision is rooted in exclusion.
