South Korean megastars were widely predicted to compete for several major Grammy awards, including Album of the Year, as their comeback album “ARIRANG” became one of the best-selling this year.
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However, the seven-member group announced that they would not participate in this competition – the statement came after five new categories were introduced, including “Best Asian Pop Performance.”
“We have decided not to participate in the Grammys this year,” BTS members posted in coordinated posts on their personal Instagram accounts. “We hope that music will be heard and loved for what it is, not by region or language.”
BTS is the first group composed solely of South Korean artists to top the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. They achieved this with their 2020 song “Dynamite” – the group’s first hit sung entirely in English.
Despite appearing at several Grammy ceremonies and receiving multiple nominations, including a nomination for Best Music Video, the group has never won these awards.
Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a statement that he was disappointed by the group’s decision and that success in the Asian category does not eliminate the possibility of winning other major awards.
“The Asian Pop Music category was created to celebrate the brilliance, diversity, and extraordinary growth of pop music emerging from Asia,” he said. “The essence of these new categories is to draw special attention to these important artists.”
“ARIRANG,” named after a famous South Korean folk song, mainly features English lyrics but also explores themes such as Korean identity.
This album would not qualify for the Grammy “Best Asian Pop Performance” category, announced last month, as it requires that the works “meaningfully use” at least one Asian language.
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BTS returned after a break due to mandatory military service.
“Turned their back”
The Recording Academy said the new award aims to honor “artistic excellence in Asian pop music originating from or widely recognized in Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, but not limited to them.”
However, some critics argue that this pigeonholes Asian artists into a separate category instead of recognizing them alongside their global peers.
Lee Ji-young, a BTS fan and professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said that “by any objective measure, it is the Grammys that need BTS, not the other way around.”
“The fact that BTS is the first to turn their back on the Recording Academy is also a sign that the authority the Grammys have long wielded as gatekeepers – the ones who send the invitation – is beginning to fade,” she told AFP.
Beyond music, BTS supported UNICEF campaigns and in 2020 donated $1 million (0.88 million euros) to the Black Lives Matter movement – inspiring fans to raise the same amount.
In 2022, the group members also spoke at the White House about anti-Asian hate and inclusion, as well as openly discussing mental health.
The group recently concluded their European tour and performed a Super Bowl-style halftime show during the NFL’s big final and the World Cup final halftime in the US.
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