BTS Will Not Enter ‘Arirang’ Songs for Consideration at 2027 Grammy Awards - Billboard

What the report says

Billboard reported that BTS will not submit music from its comeback album “ARIRANG” for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. According to the report, all seven members — RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — posted matching messages on Instagram on Wednesday, July 29, saying they would sit out this year’s Grammy process and expressing a preference that music be received beyond divisions of region or language.

The decision comes after the Recording Academy introduced five new Grammy categories in June, including best Asian pop music performance. Billboard framed BTS’ statement as an implicit response to that category’s rules, which require meaningful use of an Asian language and cover music such as K-pop, J-pop and C-pop. The article noted that English-only recordings remain eligible elsewhere, and that a song entered in one performance category cannot also compete in another performance category.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. responded in a statement cited by Billboard, saying he was disappointed but respected the group’s choice. He said the Asian Pop category was intended to increase recognition for artists from Asia and stressed that genre-category submissions do not prevent eligible recordings from being considered in the General Field, such as album, record or song of the year.

Billboard added context that BTS has five Grammy nominations and no wins, including nods for “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “My Universe,” the “Yet to Come” video and Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres.” The outlet also described “ARIRANG” as part of a major comeback year following the members’ military service and said the group’s absence could affect the Grammys’ global audience appeal.