BTS Relinquishes Grammy Nominations, Stating "Music Transcends Language and Region"

BTS has decided not to submit music for the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 7 next year. All members officially announced the decision through their respective SNS accounts on the 29th.

In messages posted on SNS, the members stated, "We have decided not to submit for the Grammys this year." They added, "We hope that music is heard and loved for itself, rather than being divided by region or language," while expressing their gratitude to the fandom ARMY and everyone else. As all members posted the same message, this decision represents the official stance of the entire group.

Relinquishing Nominations After Dominating Billboard

BTS has achieved overwhelming success in the global music market this year. Their fifth studio album, 'Arirang,' released last March, swept both the main album and single charts on the US Billboard. This decision to forgo Grammy submissions is unusual, coming immediately after they proved their influence by dominating major global charts.

BTS has previously elevated the status of K-pop by being nominated for the Grammys multiple times and performing on its stage. This choice appears to be a decision that goes beyond mere scheduling issues.

The New 'Asian Pop' Category and Musical Identity

Starting with the 69th Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy is introducing a new category: 'Best Asian Pop Music Performance.' This category targets music from Asian regions, such as Korea, China, and Japan, and evaluates works that make meaningful use of one or more Asian languages. The Recording Academy explained that the new category was established because Asian pop is a trend with sustained and significant influence in the global music industry.

However, the creation of this category has drawn criticism. Some point out that categorizing music by specific regions and languages could act as a barrier, preventing Asian music, including K-pop, from entering the so-called 'General Field,' such as 'Song of the Year,' 'Record of the Year,' and 'Album of the Year.'

The composition of their recently released fifth studio album, 'Arirang,' is also a variable. Most of the tracks, including the title track 'Swim,' consist of English lyrics. Considering the regulations of the new category, which requires the meaningful use of Asian languages, analysts suggest that this album, composed primarily of English-centric songs, may find it difficult to achieve significant results in that specific category.

Mixed Fan Reactions and Musical Philosophy

In their statement, BTS did not directly criticize the Grammys or explicitly mention the newly created category. Instead, they conveyed a message that music should be recognized for its universal value without being confined to a specific framework.

Reactions within the fandom ARMY have been diverse. While some expressed support, saying, "Music should have no borders," "This is a principled decision worthy of BTS," and "A choice that prioritizes values over results," others expressed disappointment, noting, "I wanted to see them on the Grammy stage again."