On , the Grammys announced the addition of five new award categories for the 2027 Grammys. These categories were Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performances, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, Best Traditional Folk Album, Best Latin Song, and Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The first four categories were more specific restructurings of previously existing categories, but Best Asian Pop Music Performance was the first time Asian pop music had been singled out for an award at the Grammys.
This announcement was met with a boycott from the world-renowned Korean pop (K-pop) boy group, BTS, on July 29, 2026, when each member of the group posted a statement on their Instagram stories, stating that they were not planning to submit any songs for consideration. The story was posted in Korean, and the translated English version read, “We have decided not to submit our music for consideration at this year’s Grammys. We hope that music will be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being categorized by region or language. We would like to thank ARMY [the name for their fans] and everyone who has always been with us.” ’s response appeared to demonstrate that this new category seemed like an attempt to separate their music by the group’s origin and language, rather than by their art.
Their concern that their music will now be judged solely on the basis of language rather than content is valid, as the Best Asian Pop Music Performance requirement stated that for a song to be eligible for the awards in that category, it “ use of one or more Asian languages. An Asian language should play a significant role within the song in bilingual or multilingual structures, such that the recording is identifiable with that language. Recordings performed entirely in an Asian language are eligible. Incidental or minimal use (e.g., isolated words, adlibs, or brief phrases) does not qualify.” The requirement seems overly focused on meeting their language quota rather than appreciating the nuances that might come with an Asian language performance. It makes the diversity in the music feel like just a checkmark rather than a celebration.
Additionally, this raises a serious dilemma, as many K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop groups have begun incorporating more English lyrics into their songs. For instance, on BLACKPINK’s latest album , four out of five songs were in English. BTS’s own newest album, , contained three songs only in English and the remaining 11 songs contained both English and Korean lyrics. Music by groups like TFBoys, Babymetal, and ENHYPEN, among others, includes tracks that are bilingual, containing English lyrics. So, for artists who are creating music in English to better relate to fans, being told that their music should be in a separate category feels a bit like a slap in the face. Asian pop artists are already trying to bridge the international gap only for their music to be pushed aside into a separate category because it is “Asian.”So while the initial creation of the award may have been to celebrate a different music genre, the end result might be that it will exclude the very group it is trying to include. Additionally, the emphasis on making sure the song’s use of Asian language was “meaningful” could imply that perhaps some Asian music artists' inclusion of their language would be in a manner that wouldn’t be considered meaningful enough, putting Western ideals onto Asian languages and artists that might see their art differently.
Although K-pop group Stray Kids has also for the Grammys this year, despite having done so in the past, thus far, no other Asian pop group has joined BTS in a public boycott of the Grammys. This could be a result of the reality that few other Asian pop groups have achieved the impact and fame of BTS. For many, the chance to participate in the Grammys is one that they cannot refuse. Additionally, despite BTS’s view of the award as exclusionary, many other artists see it as an opportunity to honor Asian popular music that might not have been acknowledged by the Grammys otherwise, marking it as a celebration of diversity. The goal of the Grammy Committee in the creation of this category was to encourage diversity and recognition for art forms in other language groups and regions. In the words of , “By far, the loudest feedback we heard was from people who were enthusiastic supporters of the category.” Others have gone even further, criticizing BTS for their decision. One member argues that BTS turned a decision for diversity into a publicity statement, posting that “Instead, it’s become a press campaign driven by a narrative that 100% was not the aim of creating this category.”
The controversy continues and holds implications for how Asian artists and art will be recognized by Western awards. Although BTS and Stray Kids did not submit any music, it is likely that other Asian artists did. While the Grammys argue that their decision was for diversity, the segregation of music, much as segregation of anything, borders on a fine line between inclusion and exclusion. It would be great for Asian artists to get wider recognition, yet the result could mean that Asian music would be “othered,” leading them to be sidelined while other, specifically Western music, holds the spotlight.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 大象传媒 University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 大象传媒 University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.