Group BTS made a bombshell declaration that it will not take part in the upcoming 69th "Grammy Awards."
BTS said on the afternoon of the 29th via social media that "we decided not to submit to the Grammys this year."
They said, "We hope music can be heard and loved as music itself, rather than being divided by region or language," and added, "We thank 'ARMY' (the fandom name) and everyone who is always with us."
This is interpreted as a protest against the "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category newly created last month by the Grammys targeting music from Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan. The Grammys explained it as a step reflecting the trend that Asian music's influence in the global market is growing by the day.
However, criticism grew fierce in the pop music industry. Observers noted that lumping together the popular music of the three Northeast Asian countries, which share few cultural touchpoints, solely due to geographical boundaries exposes the Western world's narrow perspective.
In addition, some analysis suggested there was an intent to confine K-pop's scope of activity in the global music market, including the United States, to a subcategory rather than major categories. In other words, while the threshold for winning may appear lower, the barriers to entering the main awards—considered the centerpiece of the ceremony—or the major pop categories have instead become even more entrenched.
The "Grammy Awards" is an annual awards ceremony hosted since 1959 by the Recording Academy, an organization of music professionals including singers, producers, recording engineers, and critics, and it holds the highest prestige in popular music. However, compared to other U.S. popular music awards, it has faced unending criticism for being particularly conservative and exclusionary toward nonwhite artists.
BTS first connected with the "Grammy Awards" in 2019 as presenters for the "best R&B category." The group then took the stage at the ceremony the following year through a joint performance with Lil Nas X, the first such feat in K-pop history. From 2021 for three consecutive years, they were nominated for "best pop duo/group performance," among others, but regrettably did not win.