Stray Kids and BTS skip 2027 Grammy submissions, citing new Asian Pop category

Both groups declined to enter the 2027 Grammys, joining a broader pushback against the new Asian Pop category.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 02 Oct 2026 16:03:46 GMT

South Korean boy bands Stray Kids and BTS have confirmed they will not submit music for the 2027 Grammy Awards, according to statements from their agencies and reports from Variety and Rolling Stone.

What happened

Stray Kids’ agency JYP Entertainment told local media that the group did not file any entry before the August 21 deadline for the 69th Grammy Awards, despite receiving invitations to become Recording Academy voters. The group’s latest EP, “This & That,” was released on August 7, well within the eligibility period that closed on August 28, but the band chose not to submit it for consideration. BTS announced in July that they also would not submit any material, a move that preceded the Recording Academy’s decision to add a Best Asian Pop Performance category.

What the reports add

Rolling Stone noted that Stray Kids had previously avoided comment on the new category and that JYP confirmed the eligibility window passed without a submission. Variety reported that the agency offered no explanation for the decision and did not confirm whether the new category influenced it. Variety also highlighted that all eight members of Stray Kids received voter invitations, allowing them to participate in the nomination process even without entries.

What was said

At an August 6 press conference in Seoul, Stray Kids member Seungmin deflected a question about the Asian Pop category, focusing on creative motivations, while Hyunjin said the group has never chased awards or chart milestones, emphasizing fan satisfaction as their benchmark. The Recording Academy’s CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said the Academy heard “the loudest feedback … from people who were enthusiastic supporters of the category,” after weeks of listening sessions with Asian music leaders.

How it came about

The boycott follows BTS’s July statement that they would not submit music, citing a desire for music to be heard without regional or language divisions. The Recording Academy introduced the Best Asian Pop Performance category in June, prompting dialogue with Asian music stakeholders. Earlier Felo coverage linked BTS’s broader engagement with Western award shows, including RM’s solo museum exhibition at SFMOMA (RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me).

Key facts

Stray Kids did not submit any music for the 2027 Grammy Awards. (variety.com)
BTS also announced they will not submit music for the 2027 Grammys. (rollingstone.com)
The Grammy eligibility period closed on August 28, 2026. (variety.com)
All eight Stray Kids members were invited to become Recording Academy voters. (variety.com)