BTS Announces Grammy Boycott: "Music Should Be Evaluated for Itself, Not by Genre"

BTS has made an unusual decision regarding the Grammy Awards, widely considered the most prestigious music awards in the world. Global attention is focused on the group as they officially announced that they will not submit any works for the Grammys this year.

On the 29th, all members of BTS posted identical messages via their respective social media (SNS) accounts, stating, "We have decided not to submit for the Grammys this year." The members added, "We hope that music is heard and loved as music itself, rather than being divided by region or language," and expressed, "We are grateful to ARMY and everyone who is always with us."

As the members posted the same message simultaneously, the decision carries even more weight as it represents the official stance of the entire team rather than individual opinions.

BTS has already achieved significant milestones in the global music market this year. Their 5th studio album, 'ARIRANG', released last March, swept both the main album and single charts on the US Billboard, proving their global influence once again. Given that they have dominated major global charts, their decision to forgo Grammy submission is generating even greater buzz.

In particular, some in the music industry interpret this choice not as a simple absence, but as a critique of the Grammy Awards' evaluation methods. Some analyze that this is an indirect way of expressing the philosophy that music should be evaluated as a single entity rather than being categorized by region or cultural sphere, following the Grammys' recent creation of the 'Best Asian Pop Music Performance' category.

Indeed, the statement released by BTS lends weight to this interpretation. The members emphasized, "We hope music is heard and loved as music itself, not by region or language," conveying the message that artistic quality and musicality should be the criteria for evaluation rather than the framework of a specific country or culture.

However, BTS did not directly criticize the Grammys or mention the newly created category. Along with the decision not to submit, they calmly conveyed the universal value of music and their gratitude toward fans, appearing to caution against over-interpretation.

This declaration is even more symbolic considering the relationship BTS has built with the Grammys. Having raised the status of K-pop by being nominated and performing on the stage several times, their decision to voluntarily forgo submission is being received as a message sent to the entire music industry, transcending a mere scheduling choice.

Fans are showing various reactions. While support pours in with comments such as "Music should have no borders," "A principled decision worthy of BTS," and "A choice that places weight on values rather than results," there are also many expressing disappointment, saying, "I wanted to see them on the Grammy stage again."

Through this decision, BTS has once again revealed their philosophy regarding how music is evaluated rather than whether they win awards. Even from their position at the global summit, their choice to emphasize values over records is drawing attention to what kind of discussions it will spark regarding the diversity and evaluation standards of global music awards, including the Grammys.