All seven members of BTS announced on Wednesday that the group would not submit any music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards, a decision that immediately sparked widespread speculation among fans and industry observers. The announcement was made simultaneously through each member's Instagram Story on July 29, 2026, creating a rare moment of unified messaging from RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook.
The posts, initially reported by Korean media outlets, were translations of a shared statement that emphasized a desire for music to be recognized beyond geographic and linguistic boundaries. According to the translated text, the members wrote that they hoped their music could be heard and loved simply as music, rather than being categorized or divided by region or language. They also expressed gratitude to ARMY, the group's global fanbase, for their continued support.
A Statement Without an Official Translation
Notably, neither BTS nor BIGHIT MUSIC issued a permanent English-language statement. Since Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours, the only remaining record of the announcement exists through screenshots and contemporaneous transcripts collected by Korean media at the time the Stories were live. This has led to careful wording in international coverage, with most outlets relying on the translations provided by Korean media rather than an official BTS translation.
The absence of an official English version has left some details open to interpretation. For example, the phrase 'this year' in the translated statement may refer to the 2026 Grammy submission cycle, which determines nominations for the 69th Grammy Awards held in 2027. This aligns with the group's reference to the '69th Grammy Awards,' the upcoming ceremony that would honor music released during the eligibility period beginning September 2025 and ending August 2026.
New Grammy Category Adds Context
The timing of the announcement drew particular attention because the Recording Academy had recently introduced a new category: Best Asian Pop Music Performance. Announced on June 16, 2026, as part of a broader expansion of the Grammy Awards, the category requires meaningful use of one or more Asian languages and is designed to recognize pop music originating from or widely associated with Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop.
Several publications and fans interpreted BTS's statement in the context of this new category, though the group did not confirm any connection. The members did not mention the category by name, nor did they cite any specific reason for their decision. The Recording Academy's announcement was controversial in some corners of the music industry, with debates about how to define Asian pop and whether the category would serve emerging artists or further marginalize them. BTS's decision not to submit music was widely seen by many as a subtle commentary on the categorization of music by language or region, even though the group did not explicitly say so.
It is also worth noting that the new category does not affect BTS's eligibility for other Grammy fields, such as Album of the Year or Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The group's decision not to submit music altogether means they would sit out the entire 2027 ceremony, rather than merely declining participation in one category.
A History of Grammy Nominations Without a Win
BTS has had a complicated relationship with the Grammy Awards. The group has been nominated multiple times in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category, a field that recognizes singles by duos or groups. Despite their massive commercial success and dedicated fanbase, BTS has yet to win a Grammy. Their first nomination came in 2021 for the song 'Dynamite,' followed by nominations for 'Butter' in 2022 and 'Yet to Come' in 2023, among others. Each nominations cycle was accompanied by fervent fan campaigns and high-profile performances, but the awards themselves remained elusive.
Over the years, BTS's relationship with the Recording Academy has been closely scrutinized. In a 2021 interview, members expressed both honor and frustration at being categorized primarily within pop genres, despite their origins in K-pop. Some artists and critics have argued that the Grammy process has historically undervalued non-English-language music, frequently
Source: MSN News