I think BTS boycotting the Grammy Awards was a really good move.

The global music industry is buzzing with excitement following the recent news that BTS will not be attending next year's Grammy Awards. It is reported that on the 29th, the members personally announced via social media that they would not be submitting any works to this year's Grammys. Coming just one month after the Grammys established the Asian Pop category, this decision appears to be a principled protest against drawing lines based on region or language in music. Leader RM also stated that he hopes music will be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being labeled with a specific region.

I think this move by BTS is a truly wonderful decision. They have already established themselves as global pop icons beyond K-pop, so I don't think there is any need to confine them within the new category of "Asian pop." Foreign media outlets have also described this boycott as a gentle yet powerful criticism of the Grammys. Their music has already transcended language barriers and reached people all over the world, so the very attempt to categorize them into specific categories feels anachronistic.

The Grammys clarified that their purpose was to promote more artists. However, classifying artists by genre or region can easily lead to discrimination that divides the mainstream from the non-mainstream, so BTS's concerns are fully understandable. Given that most of the tracks on their new album "Arirang," set to be released in 2026, feature English lyrics, there is even less reason for them to be confined to a narrow category. BTS, who always demonstrate their philosophy through their music and actions, seem to have firmly upheld their values ​​once again. I look forward to continuing to support them as they continue to make their mark on the global stage while raising their voices with such confidence.