BTS boycott and Grammy video removal spark retaliation claims

Tensions between BTS and the Grammy Awards are escalating into a new controversy. Immediately after BTS expressed their intention to refuse submission to next year's Grammy Awards, iconic performance videos of the group disappeared from the official Grammy website, leading some fans to raise suspicions of "retaliatory measures."

However, as the Recording Academy has not released an official statement regarding the video deletions to date, the controversy remains ongoing.

- Missing 'Dynamite' and 'Butter' performances; fans ask, "Can you erase history too?"

As of the 2nd, the performance videos for BTS's 'Dynamite' (presented in 2021) and 'Butter' (released in 2022) cannot be found on the official Grammy website.

Both stages are considered iconic moments in BTS's Grammy history. In particular, the 'Dynamite' performance drew massive global attention as an original stage filmed across various locations in Seoul, even amidst the difficulties of performing in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 'Butter' stage also remains a symbolic moment of BTS's Grammy history, receiving high praise from global fans for its spy-movie concept and flashy performance.

However, while these videos have been removed from the Grammy website, they remain available on BTS's official YouTube channel.

Fans are focusing on the timing of the removal.

The videos disappeared immediately after BTS declared their refusal to submit works to the Grammys.

On SNS, reactions such as "You may delete them from the website, but you cannot erase the history BTS made," "Grammy just proved its own influence," and "Is this how they handle criticism?" continue to emerge.

- BTS's reason for Grammy refusal: "Music should not be divided by language or region"

The controversy began with BTS's declaration to refuse Grammy submissions.

The seven members of BTS announced through a joint statement last month on the 29th that they would not submit works to the 69th Grammy Awards.

They conveyed a message to the effect of, "We hope music is heard and loved as music itself, rather than being divided by region or language," effectively challenging the Grammys' new criteria.

While they refrained from direct criticism, they highlighted concerns regarding the method of classifying music by language zones, which they argue does not align with the trends of the global music market.

The point of contention is the newly created 'Best Asian Pop Music Performance' category by the Recording Academy.

This category targets Asian music, such as K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, and uses songs containing certain Asian languages as the criteria for nomination.

Some have criticized this regulation as a move intended to exclude BTS's new album 'ARIRANG,' which was produced primarily in English.

In response, the Recording Academy explained, "It is a new attempt to reflect the growth and diversity of Asian pop music," and stated it was not targeting specific artists.

- The history of the 'White Grammy' controversy... The uncomfortable question posed by BTS

The Grammys have long been regarded as the world's most prestigious music awards.

However, they have simultaneously faced consistent criticism due to the US-centric music industry structure and award trends centered on specific genres and races.

In particular, criticisms have emerged that non-English speaking artists and Black musicians have not received sufficient recognition relative to their influence, leading to the emergence of the term "White Grammy."

Despite their global influence and records, BTS has also struggled to find success at the Grammys.

Although they have received several nominations, they have not yet won an award.

This is not merely a matter of a single trophy, but is linked to the larger question of how non-English speaking artists are viewed in the global music market.

- Deletion or reorganization? Conflicting interpretations

Of course, it cannot be definitively concluded that this is retaliation, as BTS fans claim.

Some suggest the possibility that several artists' videos may have been taken down together during a process of the Grammy website organizing or restructuring its archives.

In fact, some online communities have noted that the past performance videos of other artists have also partially disappeared.

Ultimately, the core issue is the timing and context rather than the deletion itself.

It is natural for fans to harbor doubts given that the group's representative stages disappeared immediately after their refusal to submit, but unless the Recording Academy provides a clear explanation, the controversy is not expected to subside easily.

This incident goes beyond a simple dispute over video removal; it serves as a question to the Grammy Awards, which has long positioned itself at the center of the music industry, regarding how it will coexist with a changing global musical landscape.

BTS has already taken the Grammy stage to prove their music to the world. Now, only one question remains: Is it an era where the Grammys evaluate BTS, or an era where artists like BTS force the Grammys to change?