K-pop powerhouse BTS say they will not submit music for 2027 Grammys

K-pop powerhouse BTS say they will not submit music for 2027 Grammys 1 of 2 | BTS has announced they will not submit any music at next year’s Grammy Awards. In June, the Recording Academy introduced five new categories, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance - prompting criticism Asian acts could be sidelined from top categories. (July 29) 2 of 2 | Korean pop band BTS attends the 2019 Variety’s Hitmakers Brunch in West Hollywood, Calif., on Dec. 7, 2019.(Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) 1 of 2 BTS has announced they will not submit any music at next year’s Grammy Awards. In June, the Recording Academy introduced five new categories, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance - prompting criticism Asian acts could be sidelined from top categories. (July 29) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 2 | Korean pop band BTS attends the 2019 Variety’s Hitmakers Brunch in West Hollywood, Calif., on Dec. 7, 2019.(Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) 2 of 2 Korean pop band BTS attends the 2019 Variety’s Hitmakers Brunch in West Hollywood, Calif., on Dec. 7, 2019.(Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] NEW YORK (AP) — K-pop powerhouse BTS said they will not submit their music for consideration at the forthcoming 2027 Grammy Awards.All seven BTS members — RM, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, Jung Kook and Jin — shared the same note Wednesday.“We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language,” the coordinated message read. “We thank Army and everyone who has always stood by us.”Wednesday’s announcement came just over a month after the Recording Academy announced five new Grammy categories, which include Best Asian Pop Music Performance, meant to celebrate releases across K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and beyond.Some fans viewed the new category as a racialized barrier for Asian performers.A representative for BTS offered no additional comment.BTS has never won a Grammy, though they’ve been nominated for five: three times in the best pop duo/group performance category as well as album of the year (for their contributions to Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres”) and best music video for “Yet to Come.” In fact, no K-pop act had ever won a Grammy before this year, when “Golden” from the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” took home the trophy for best song for visual media. It capped a highly visible night for K-pop at the Grammys — an institution where the genre has long been undercelebrated despite its massive international following.In March, BTS returned after a nearly four-year musical hiatus. “ARIRANG,” the 14-track, critically acclaimed fifth studio album from the septet, served as both a reintroduction to the band after its members completed South Korea’s mandatory military service and as a keen reminder of their place atop popular culture conversation. 5 MIN READ 1 MIN READ 1 MIN READ Representatives for the Recording Academy did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment.