BTS, Stray Kids skip 2027 Grammys: What is the new Asian pop category? Why are K-pop stars rejecting it?

For years, K-pop’s biggest stars have been trying to break through one of music’s most closely watched award ceremonies. But ahead of the 2027 Grammys, two of South Korea’s biggest groups BTS and Stray Kids have chosen not to submit music for consideration. At the centre of the controversy is a newly created Grammy category designed specifically for Asian pop music. The Recording Academy introduced the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category for the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 7, 2027. The award is intended to recognise pop performances from Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop.

What is the new Asian Pop Grammy category?

The Best Asian Pop Music Performance category is a new genre-specific Grammy award. According to the Recording Academy, it recognises “artistic excellence” in Asian pop performances originating from, or widely recognised within, Asian markets. The category covers contemporary popular music associated with Asian markets. K-pop, J-pop and C-pop are specifically mentioned, although the Academy says the list is not limited to those genres. There is also an important language requirement.

To qualify, a recording must make meaningful use of at least one Asian language. A song performed entirely in an Asian language can qualify, while a recording performed entirely in English cannot enter this category. Simply adding a few Asian-language words, ad-libs or short phrases is not enough under the rules. The Academy also says eligibility is determined by the musical style of the recording rather than the performer’s nationality or ethnicity. That means an artist does not automatically qualify simply because they are Asian.

Why did the Grammys create the category?

The Recording Academy says the new award was created to give greater recognition to the growing influence and diversity of Asian pop music. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said the category was intended to “celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth” of pop artistry coming from Asia. He has also stressed that artists entering the new category can still compete in the Grammys’ major general-field awards. That distinction is important. Being eligible for Best Asian Pop Music Performance does not prevent an artist from being considered for categories such as Album of the Year, Record of the Year or Song of the Year, according to the Academy.

Why did BTS object?

BTS announced in July that it would not submit music for Grammy consideration in 2027. The group’s seven members said they wanted their music to be heard without being separated by region or language. “We hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language,” the members said in a statement shared on social media.

The timing linked the decision closely to the introduction of the new Asian Pop category. Reuters reported that BTS expressed dissatisfaction with the new category, while the Recording Academy maintained that the award was intended to expand recognition rather than create divisions. BTS had been nominated for Grammys five times but had not won a competitive Grammy before the 2027 awards cycle. Their decision means their 2026 comeback material, including the album Arirang, will not be submitted for consideration.

Stray Kids also sit out the 2027 Grammys

Stray Kids have now joined BTS in not submitting music for the upcoming Grammys. Their agency, JYP Entertainment, confirmed the decision, saying simply: “Stray Kids did not submit for the Grammys.” Unlike BTS, the group and its agency have not publicly given a detailed explanation linking the decision directly to the Asian Pop category. The development is particularly notable because all eight Stray Kids members recently became Recording Academy members, giving them voting rights within the Grammy process.

A new category at a complicated moment

The Asian Pop category arrives as K-pop’s presence at the Grammys is becoming increasingly visible. The 2026 ceremony saw K-pop Demon Hunters’ “Golden” win Best Song Written for Visual Media, marking a Grammy win for a K-pop act, while Rosé also received major nominations for “APT.” with Bruno Mars.

The new category could therefore represent a significant expansion of Grammy recognition for Asian pop. But BTS and Stray Kids’ decisions show that some of the genre’s biggest artists do not want that recognition to come at the cost of being viewed primarily through a regional or linguistic label. The first Best Asian Pop Music Performance award will now proceed without two of K-pop’s most prominent global groups. Whether the category ultimately changes how Asian pop is represented at the Grammys will become clearer when the inaugural nominees are announced.