A new Grammy category has split K-pop fans and the music industry. In June, the Recording Academy announced Best Asian Pop Music Performance, one of five new categories for the 2027 Grammys. Critics say it puts Asian artists in a separate lane instead of judging them alongside global peers. The Academy says it is meant to celebrate Asian pop. Major K-pop groups, including BTS and Stray Kids, have now chosen not to enter.
What the New Category Covers
According to the Academy, the award is for songs created or widely played in Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop. One rule matters a great deal: entries must make “meaningful use” of at least one Asian language.
That rule means a song recorded mainly in English can’t compete in this category, even if the artist is Korean, Japanese, or Chinese.
BTS Takes a Stand
The backlash really took off on July 29, when BTS announced they would not submit music for Grammy consideration. The group released a unified statement explaining their stance:
“We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.”
The timing drew attention because BTS had just returned with ARIRANG and spent three weeks atop the Billboard 200. Reports say its lead single “Swim” reached No. 1 in the US and was seen as a possible contender for major awards. Its English lyrics would have made it ineligible for the Asian pop category. BTS has been nominated for Grammys before, including for “Dynamite” and “Butter,” but has never won.
This bold refusal to submit to the Grammys also set the tone for the rest of the industry.
Stray Kids Join the Blackout
Stray Kids were more careful at first. During August promotions for This & That, the group avoided giving a direct answer about Grammy submissions. Hyunjin and Seungmin emphasized fans and creativity over awards.
All eight Stray Kids members were actually invited to join the Recording Academy as voting members earlier this year. Even so, the August submission deadline passed. Their label, JYP Entertainment, officially confirmed on October 2 that the group did not submit any work for consideration.
“Stray Kids did not submit for the Grammys.”
The label did not say the decision was tied to the new category. Many fans nonetheless saw the timing as a response to it.
Which Other Bands Are Actually Boycotting?
- BLACKPINK: Not confirmed as boycotting; reportedly ineligible because their latest EP was entirely in English.
- TWICE: Not part of the boycott narrative; they reportedly had no eligible release this cycle.
- aespa, EXO, and LE SSERAFIM: Frequently mentioned in rumors, but there has been no widely confirmed official boycott statement.
That distinction matters. Right now, the first Best Asian Pop Music Performance award is moving forward without BTS and Stray Kids, while other major names are also missing.
How Fans Are Reacting on Social Media?
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. pushed back, saying the category was meant to expand recognition, not divide artists. He stressed that all acts still remain eligible for the major Grammy races. But plenty of fans and critics weren’t buying it. People online strongly criticized the category for separating Asian artists from everyone else.
Proud to say that my Bangtan was the first to stand up against scammy
The pride of K-Pop. They are scared to compete with other artists from other countries.
Everyone is following BTS’s footsteps. They always paved the way.
Because the Grammys are a scam. They only want to include K-Pop for the fanbases to watch their rigged awards show but not actually recognize the genre.
And none of them need that award because they already have relevance and success. They don’t need a Grammy to make a name for themselves.
Academy holds firm. After initially suggesting it could revise the category, the Recording Academy confirmed on October 1 that it would present the award as planned, with Mason saying the Academy was confident it was the right conclusion for the music community overall.