NO GRAMMY, NO PROBLEM 💜

BTS announced Wednesday that it will not submit its music for consideration for the 69th Annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for February next year.

The group made the surprise announcement in a brief statement posted on social media: “We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year. We hope music can be heard and embraced for what it is, beyond region or language.”

The announcement came as a surprise to many given BTS’ long pursuit of Grammy recognition.

Over the past several years, the members have repeatedly described winning a Grammy Award as one of the group’s biggest career goals.

BTS’ announcement also comes weeks after the Recording Academy unveiled five new categories for the 2027 Grammy Awards, including Asian Pop Music Performance. Announced in June, the new category is intended to “recognize artistic excellence in Asian pop music performance,” according to the Recording Academy.

The timing of BTS’ decision has drawn attention because the new category has sparked debate within Korea’s music industry over whether it represents recognition of Asian pop music or separates the genre from the Grammys’ traditional mainstream categories.

Some critics have argued that the Recording Academy has historically responded to the growing influence of emerging genres and regional music by creating dedicated competitive fields, citing previous expansions for Latin and R&B music. Others have welcomed the new category as long-overdue recognition of Asian pop’s growing global impact.

As BTS opted out of the 2027 Grammys, HYBE clarified that the decision applies only to BTS, leaving the door open for other Hybe artists to submit their work.

“This was a decision made by the artists, and Big Hit Music respects their decision,” Hybe told The Korea Herald on Wednesday.

Asked whether other Hybe-affiliated artists could still submit for Grammy consideration, the company said, “As a multi-label company, Hybe respects the decisions of each label and its artists.”