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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Music and Concerts devider BTS withdraws Grammy submissions as Recording Academy CEO says he respects group's decision

BTS withdraws Grammy submissions as Recording Academy CEO says he respects group's decision

Published Jul 29, 2026 03:01 pm
BTS (X)
BTS (X)

South Korean boy band BTS will not submit entries for the 69th Grammy Awards, with the group saying they hope music can be appreciated beyond categories based on language or region.

The seven members announced their decision on July 29 through their official Instagram Stories, telling fans that they would sit out this year's Grammy submission process.

"We have decided not to submit to this year's Grammys. We hope that music can be heard and loved for its own sake, rather than being categorized by region or language. We thank ARMY and everyone who is always with us," BTS said.

The announcement marks a change for the global K-pop superstars, who have previously competed for Grammy recognition and earned five nominations.

BTS received their first Grammy nomination in 2021 for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Dynamite." They earned the same nomination in 2022 for "Butter" and in 2023 for their Coldplay collaboration "My Universe."

The group also received an Album of the Year nomination as featured artists on Coldplay's "Music of the Spheres" and a Best Music Video nomination for "Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)" in 2023.

BTS released their studio album "Arirang" in March.

Reaction from Recording Academy

Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, which organizes the Grammy Awards, said he was saddened by BTS' decision but respected the group's choice.

"I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision," Mason said in a statement.

Mason also addressed concerns surrounding the Grammy Awards' newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, saying the purpose of the category has been misunderstood.

The new category, announced last month, recognizes outstanding Asian pop performances from markets including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, with meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.

"The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia," Mason said.

He added that the category was intended to expand recognition rather than separate artists based on geography or language.

"More categories mean more artists' work is recognized. It's never to divide, but to expand who is recognized by our 15,000 Grammy voters," he said.

Mason emphasized that artists submitting in genre categories such as Asian Pop, Jazz or Country can still be considered for major General Field awards, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year.

"Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive," Mason said, adding that eligible artists can pursue recognition in both areas.

The Recording Academy chief said the organization remains committed to recognizing artists from around the world.

"As we continue to expand the reach, our membership and our awards, regardless of geography or language, I want to emphasize that we will continue to listen to the global music community and work to honor and celebrate all the artists whose music moves the world," Mason said.

The 69th Annual Grammy Awards will take place on Feb. 7 next year. Eligible recordings for the awards are those released between Aug. 31, 2025, and Aug. 28, 2026.

The submission period runs from July 7 to Aug. 21, followed by the first-round voting period from Oct. 12 to 22. Grammy nominations are expected to be announced on Nov. 16.

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