BTS' Grammys boycott signals reversed relationship between artists, award shows
The Recording Academy's changed stance over its new Asian pop music category after K-pop superstars BTS opted not to submit music for consideration for the 69th Grammy Awards has shown the shifting dynamics between artists and award organizers, according to critics and industry figures. While acknowledging that such a boycott was possible only because it came from BTS, one of the world's most…
The Recording Academy's decision to introduce an Asian pop music category for the 69th Grammy Awards, following the Grammy boycott by K-pop superstars BTS, has highlighted the evolving relationship between artists and award organizers. While recognizing that the boycott was feasible due to BTS's immense influence, industry experts argue that the controversy exposed a dynamic where award shows rely heavily on artists with extensive fanbases more than the artists rely on the shows.
The Academy revealed the new category on June 16, offering five new awards for singles and tracks that effectively incorporate one or more Asian languages. On July 29, all seven BTS members released a united statement announcing they would not submit any music for Grammy consideration, emphasizing their desire for music to be appreciated for its merit, irrespective of region or language.
As the dispute escalated, Billboard reported on July 29 that the Recording Academy's leadership engaged with representatives from K-pop, J-pop, and various other music communities during their deliberations.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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