Global pop group BTS will not submit their music for consideration at the upcoming Grammy Awards, opting out of the competition following the Recording Academy’s introduction of a new Asian pop category.
The announcement was made Wednesday through identical statements posted by all seven members—RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook—on their individual Instagram accounts. Addressing their fans directly, the group confirmed they would withhold their latest album, ARIRANG , and its lead single, “SWIM,” from the submission process.
Explaining the decision, the group stated: “We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year. We hope that music is heard and loved for what it is, rather than being defined by region or language.”
The move comes weeks after the Recording Academy unveiled the “Best Asian Pop Music Performance” category for the next awards cycle. The decision by BTS is widely viewed as a protest against dividing artists by race, region, or language rather than evaluating their work on its artistic merits within mainstream global categories.
