BTS Opts Out of Grammy Consideration Amid New Asian Pop Category
South Korean group BTS has announced they will not submit their music for Grammy consideration this year, in apparent protest of the Recording Academy’s newly created Best Asian Pop Music Performance category designed to recognize works from Asian markets and languages. The move comes after BTS members posted on Instagram expressing that they want their music heard for what it is, without regional or language division. The group, long anticipated to receive multiple nominations for Arirang and its lead single Swim, had even been expected to perform at the ceremony. BTS is currently on a world tour and recently performed at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show at MetLife Stadium.