BTS decline Grammy submission for Arirang

The K-pop group BTS announced the decision in a post on Instagram.

"We have decided not to submit our music for the Grammy Awards this year. We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, without being divided by region or language," the band wrote.

The decision comes in response to one of the five new categories introduced by the Recording Academy, specifically Best Asian Pop Music Performance, an award recognizing the remarkable global growth of Asian pop music, including genres such as K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop from South Korea, Japan, and China, respectively, CE Report quotes ANSA.

The new categories will make their debut at the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 7, 2027. According to the Recording Academy, the additions are intended to provide official recognition and a stronger voice for an increasingly global and internationally successful music market.

However, BTS viewed the new category as a form of segmentation that could confine or classify artists based on the Asian language in which they perform.

Arirang is the South Korean group's ninth studio album and marked their return to the music scene after their mandatory hiatus due to military service.

Photo: Instagram