BTS' Grammy boycott spreads to K-pop's biggest agencies

The Korea Times - Oct 16, 2026

The decision of BTS to boycott the Grammys amid the newly introduced Asian pop category appears to have grown into an industrywide stand, with artists from Korea's four biggest entertainment companies reportedly opting not to submit music for consideration. According to Grammy analysis site The Grammy Guru on Thursday, no artists represented by HYBE, YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment or SM Entertainment submitted songs for the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category at the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled for next year. The Recording Academy recently introduced the category to encompass Asian pop genres including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop. The move, however, has sparked debate over whether grouping Asian artists into a region-specific category could effectively separate them from broader Grammy competition rather than expand their recognition. BTS previously said it would not submit music for Grammy consideration in a move widely seen as a protest to the award show's new Asian pop category. "We hope music can be heard and loved for the music itself, rather than being divided by region or l

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