BTS chose not to register works for this year's Grammys, despite being seen as having a great chance of winning a new category for Asian pop music. The decision sparked questions about whether the category embraces Asian musicians or separates them from the main stage.
The seven members of BTS announced the decision simultaneously through their respective Instagram accounts on Wednesday at around 14.00.
"We decided not to submit the work to the Grammys this year. We hope that music can be heard and accepted as it is, beyond regions or languages. Thank you to ARMY and everyone who continues to support us," they wrote.
ARMY is a term for BTS fans.
Korea JoongAng Daily, quoted Wednesday, July 29, reported that the decision was announced after the Recording Academy introduced five new categories in June. The Recording Academy is the organization that organizes the Grammy Awards.
One of the new categories is Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The award is given to performances that originate from or are widely known in the Asian market.
BTS is seen as the strongest candidate to win the inaugural trophy in that category through their fifth full-length album, Arirang. The album was released after the group had been on hiatus for almost four years.
BTS's move was then seen as a response to the new category. A number of fans judged that the Grammys were not embracing Asian musicians, but rather separating them from the mainstream of Western music.
The special category is also feared to be an excuse to continue not to include Asian musicians in the four main Grammy categories. The four are Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.
BTS has collected awards from various major music events in the United States. In May, the group won the Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards for the second time.
The Grammys are the only major awards they have never won. Therefore, BTS' chances at the event are always a subject of speculation every award season.
Music critic Lim Hee-yun judged BTS' decision to be read as a challenge to the Grammy's conservative attitude.
"When an artist with the social influence of BTS says, 'don't box us in as Asian pop', then that message gets broad support, the Grammys can be nudged to be more inclusive," Lim said.
The Recording Academy has also previously faced criticism over the naming of categories. Best Urban Contemporary was changed to Best Progressive R&B Album in 2020 after receiving objections and criticism from the music industry.
Tyler, the Creator was among those who criticized the term after winning Best Rap Album at the Grammys that year.
However, Lim reminded that the Grammy should not be considered the final judge of the world's music. According to him, the event was not designed from the beginning to represent all global music.
"Basically, people who sell records in the American market are grouping products based on their own criteria," he said.
He assessed that the rejection of the new category was becoming harder because the Grammys were already seen as the highest measure of a musician's success.
"I don't see any reason to obsess over winning that award," Lim said.
Pop culture critic Kim Hern-sik called BTS' decision a blow to the Grammys. He viewed the seemingly boycott-like move positively because of BTS' symbolic position in global pop music.
"With Asian pop being separated into its own category, it's almost certain that BTS will win. However, it doesn't really matter if BTS wins an award in that separate category," said Kim.
According to Kim, the Recording Academy's criteria is also not enough to measure the influence of K-pop. K-pop grows from close interaction between artists and fans, not just from works that are passively received by listeners.
The Recording Academy is still accepting submissions for the 69th Grammy Awards until August 21. The nominees list will be announced on November 16, while the award ceremony is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on February 7.
BTS's decision makes the debate no longer just about winning or losing. What is questioned now is whether the Grammys are still worthy of being the main measure of global music success.
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