K-pop's biggest names are sitting out the 2027 Grammys, and the reason is a single new award: Best Asian Pop Music Performance. Here is what the debate is about, who is out, and what to expect next.
The Recording Academy announced the Best Asian Pop Music Performance award in June as one of five additions for the 69th Grammy Awards. It recognizes Asian pop music, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, with meaningful use of an Asian language.
Critics say a region-based category could keep Asian acts in their own lane instead of the general field awards, such as Album of the Year. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. has said the category was meant to expand recognition, and that entering it does not rule out general field consideration.
- July 29: BTS says it will not submit music, hoping music can be loved as music rather than divided by region or language.
- August: The Academy signals it could revise the category.
- Early October: The Academy confirms the category will proceed. Stray Kids' agency, JYP Entertainment, says the group did not submit, a day later.
- Mid-October: Grammy analysis site The Grammy Guru reports that no artists from HYBE, YG, JYP or SM, K-pop's four biggest agencies, submitted to the category.
Who's out
Besides BTS and Stray Kids, The Korea Times reported that BLACKPINK, TWICE and Hearts2Hearts were among the prominent acts absent from the submission list. BLACKPINK is also out of the running for a separate reason: reports say it does not meet the category's Asian-language requirement.
Nominations are set to be announced Nov. 16, and the 69th Grammy Awards air Feb. 7, 2027, from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, on ABC. With the biggest names reportedly absent, lesser-known acts could get the spotlight, while the boycott may keep questioning the category's legitimacy.
The debate also echoes a question many faith-based artists know well: does a dedicated genre category spotlight a sound, or set it apart from the main stage? The Grammys' own gospel and Christian music categories offer a point of comparison.
Related articles:
- BTS Skips 2027 Grammys, Says Music Shouldn't Be Divided by Region
- Stray Kids Join BTS Skipping 2027 Grammys Asian Pop Category
- Grammys Asian Pop Category: Who Could Be Nominated Without BTS, Stray Kids
- K-Pop's Four Biggest Agencies Reportedly Skip Grammys' Asian Pop Category: Is The Boycott Now Bigger Than BTS?
