
BTS Bows Out of Grammys as Recording Academy Chief Responds
BTS opted not to submit their music for Grammy consideration, prompting a response from Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. about the move and the Academy’s relationship with artists.
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BTS opted not to submit their music for Grammy consideration, prompting a response from Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. about the move and the Academy’s relationship with artists.

BTS announced on Instagram that they will not submit their music for Grammy consideration for the 69th Grammy Awards in 2027, saying they want their work to be heard for what it is without being divided by language or region. The seven-member group has been nominated before but never won, and they're currently on the World Tour Arirang after performing at the FIFA World Cup halftime show, with more dates to come.
The Recording Academy announced its 2026 Special Merit Awards, including lifetime achievement honors for Whitney Houston, Cher, Carlos Santana, Fela Kuti, Paul Simon, and others, to be celebrated at a ceremony in Los Angeles on January 31, 2026.
The Recording Academy has extended membership invitations to over 3,600 music professionals for the 2025 class, emphasizing diversity with nearly half women, over half people of color, and a majority under 40. New members gain opportunities for career development, advocacy, and participation in initiatives like DEI progress and Grammy voting. Notable invitees include Addison Rae, Grupo Firme, Joey Bada$, and others, who expressed pride and excitement about joining the organization.

Sabrina Carpenter's nomination for Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammys, despite having released six albums, highlights the Recording Academy's criteria for the category. According to CEO Harvey Mason Jr., the award focuses on an artist's rise to prominence rather than their debut. The rules have evolved over time, allowing artists who have previously been nominated for other categories to be considered for Best New Artist, provided they meet certain conditions. This approach has led to nominations for artists who have been active for several years before achieving widespread recognition.

Beyonce has become the most Grammy-nominated artist in history with 99 nominations, surpassing Jay-Z's record, following the release of her country album "Cowboy Carter." The album earned her 11 nominations for the upcoming Grammy Awards on February 2 in Los Angeles. Other top nominees include Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Kendrick Lamar, and Post Malone. Despite her numerous nominations and wins, Beyonce has never won the album of the year award, a point of contention highlighted by Jay-Z. The Recording Academy has faced criticism for its lack of diversity and has made efforts to address these issues.

At the 66th annual Grammy Awards, Jay-Z used his acceptance speech for the Dr. Dre global impact award to criticize the Recording Academy for its mistreatment of Black artists, highlighting the lack of recognition for his wife, Beyoncé. This reflects ongoing frustration with how hip-hop and R&B are treated at the Grammys, despite diverse winners such as SZA, Killer Mike, and Victoria Monét. Monét emphasized the long journey to her win, calling it the endpoint of a 15-year pursuit, while Jay-Z's speech turned a moment of acclaim into a reflection on the industry's shortcomings.

During his acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards, Jay-Z called out the Recording Academy for its failure to recognize women and artists of color, as well as for its treatment of rap and hip hop performers. He highlighted the lack of recognition for Beyoncé's album of the year wins despite her numerous Grammys, and urged artists to keep showing up until they receive the accolades they deserve.

Jay-Z used his Grammy award as a Cognac glass at the Grammys after receiving the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, and called out the Recording Academy for never giving Beyoncé Album of the Year. He emphasized the need for the Grammys to "get it right" and pointed out the discrepancy between Beyoncé's numerous Grammys and her lack of Album of the Year wins. Jay-Z also encouraged artists to keep showing up until they receive the recognition they deserve.

During the 66th Grammy Awards, Jay-Z criticized the Recording Academy for consistently overlooking his wife Beyoncé for the album of the year prize, despite her numerous Grammy wins. While accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, Jay-Z questioned the Academy's decisions and emphasized Beyoncé's unmatched Grammy success without an album of the year win. He urged the Academy to "get it right" and highlighted the need for recognition based on merit. Despite the snubs, the Knowles-Carter family boasts a total of 57 Grammy wins, with Jay-Z earning 24 wins and 88 nominations on his own.

The 66th Grammy Awards have commenced in Los Angeles, with SZA leading nominations. The Recording Academy has introduced three new categories for this year's edition. The majority of the awards are being presented at the Premiere Ceremony, with live updates available on various platforms. Notable winners include Boygenius for Alternative Music Album, Killer Mike for Rap Album, and Larkin Poe for Contemporary Blues Album.

The 2024 Grammy Awards are being handed out in 94 categories, with two ceremonies taking place in Los Angeles. The 2024 Grammy Premiere Ceremony kicked off with performances by various artists, and the main ceremony will be hosted by Trevor Noah. Awards will be given out in new categories such as best African music performance, best alternative jazz album, and best pop dance recording. The winners in various categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best New Artist, will be updated as they are announced live.

The GRAMMY House event, "A Celebration Of Women In The Mix," brought together women from across the music industry to celebrate their achievements and address the ongoing need for gender parity. Keynote speaker Ty Stiklorius shared emotional stories and highlighted the challenges women face in the industry, while performances and panel discussions emphasized the importance of representation and support for women in music. The event also honored Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz at the Recording Academy Honors, and featured a panel on independent music, discussing the impact of AI and the challenges faced by independent artists in the music industry.

The Grammys will introduce three new categories for this year's awards, including "Best African Music Performance," featuring global superstar nominees such as Burna Boy and Tyla. CNN's Stephanie Busari explores the rise of the Afrobeats genre and speaks to Grammy insiders about the new category for African music.

The 2024 GRAMMYs program book is available digitally, offering a guide to nominees, Special Merit Awards, and Trustees Awards. The Recording Academy, Gold House, and Pacific Bridge Arts Foundation celebrated Pan-Asian contributions to the music industry at the Gold Music Alliance reception. A Celebration of Craft event honored behind-the-scenes music professionals, while Karol G's rise in the music industry and Troye Sivan's GRAMMY-nominated single "Rush" showcase the diverse talent in the music industry.