Stray Kids Join BTS in 2027 Grammy Boycott Over Asian Pop Category

Key points

• JYP Entertainment confirmed on October 2 that Stray Kids did not submit any music for the 2027 Grammy Awards, following BTS's similar boycott announced in July.
• The boycott is a direct response to the Recording Academy's introduction of a new 'Best Asian Pop Music Performance' category, which critics argue ghettoizes Asian artists by region and language.
• Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. confirmed on October 1 that the category will proceed for 2027, stating that feedback from the Asian music community was largely enthusiastic despite some opposition.
• Stray Kids and BTS are both voting members of the Recording Academy, making their withdrawal a significant protest against the new classification.
• The category requires nominated songs to make 'meaningful use' of an Asian language, which excludes major acts like BTS and Blackpink whose recent releases are primarily in English.

Background

The Recording Academy introduced the 'Best Asian Pop Music Performance' category in June 2026, following the first K-pop Grammy win for 'Golden' from the film 'KPop Demon Hunters' in February. The category was intended to recognize the growing global impact of Asian pop music, but it sparked controversy for potentially segregating artists by region and language, similar to past complaints about Latin Grammy categories.

How outlets are covering it

Billboard and BBC report that Stray Kids' boycott is a direct response to the new category, with JYP Entertainment providing a brief statement confirming the decision. Variety emphasizes the Recording Academy's commitment to the category, highlighting CEO Harvey Mason Jr.'s statement that feedback from the Asian music community was largely supportive. BBC notes that Stray Kids had previously avoided direct answers about the awards, while Variety points out that the category's language requirement excludes major acts like BTS and Blackpink. All sources agree that the boycott is a significant protest against the new classification, but they differ in emphasis: Billboard and BBC focus on the artists' decision, while Variety focuses on the Academy's justification.

Why it matters

The boycott by two of the biggest K-pop groups signals a major rift between the Recording Academy and the Asian music community, potentially affecting the Academy's credibility and the future of genre-specific categories. It also highlights ongoing debates about how to recognize and categorize music from diverse regions and languages without segregating artists.

What to watch

The Grammy nominations will be revealed on December 10, 2026, and it remains to be seen if other major acts will follow BTS and Stray Kids in boycotting the awards. The Recording Academy has indicated it will continue to engage with the music community and may revisit the category in the future.