Washington: The Recording Academy has responded after global K-pop group BTS announced it would not submit its music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled to be held on 7 February 2027.
The seven-member group — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — announced the decision on Wednesday through identical statements shared on their respective Instagram accounts.
"We have decided not to submit for Grammy consideration this year. We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. We thank ARMY and everyone who has always stood by us," the statement read.
The announcement came just over a month after the Recording Academy introduced a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
According to the Recording Academy, the category recognises artistic excellence in performances "originating from or widely recognised within Asian markets, including but not limited to K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, with meaningful use of one or more Asian languages."
BTS has previously received Grammy nominations, including in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video categories. All seven members have also been voting members of the Recording Academy since 2019.
Responding to the group's decision, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said he respected BTS' choice while expressing disappointment that the group would not participate in this year's awards process.
"I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision," Mason wrote in a post on social media.
Addressing discussions surrounding the newly introduced Asian Pop category, Mason said it was created to celebrate the growing influence and diversity of pop music from Asia rather than separate artists by geography or language.
"I do want to clarify something that seems to be getting lost in the conversation. The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists. More categories mean more artists' work is recognised. It's never to divide, but to expand who is recognised by our 15,000 Grammy voters," he wrote.
Mason also clarified that artists submitting music in genre-specific categories remain fully eligible for the Grammy Awards' General Field categories.
"I also want to be very clear: submitting music in a genre category such as Asian Pop, or Jazz or Country does not exclude an artist from also submitting and being considered in the General Field categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year," he wrote.
"Those categories remain open to any eligible recording, regardless of genre. Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive. An artist can absolutely pursue both," he added.
Reiterating the Recording Academy's broader vision, Mason said the organisation would continue expanding its reach while listening to the global music community.
"The Grammy organisation is here to serve music and all the people who make it. As we continue to expand the reach, our membership and our awards, regardless of geography or language, I want to emphasise that we will continue to listen to the global music community and work to honour and celebrate all the artists whose music moves the world," he wrote.
The Recording Academy announced several new Grammy categories last month, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance.
On the music front, BTS returned with its 10th studio album, Arirang, released in March after the members completed South Korea's mandatory military service. The album marked the group's first full-length release in six years and topped Billboard's main albums and singles charts.
The group is currently on its World Tour Arirang and most recently performed at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it performed its 2020 hit "Dynamite".