‘Are they afraid BTS will win?’: Europe voices support for BTS’ Grammys boycott

Europe is showing support for BTS, the popular K-pop band, after the Grammy Awards announced the creation of a new category for Asian pop music. News outlets across the continent argue that the Grammys are displaying racial and regional biases when it comes to honoring art. France's Le Figaro called the new "best Asian pop music performance" award "derogatory and racist" in an article titled "Derogatory and Racist: The Grammys shoot themselves in the foot with a new award for Asian pop."

The Recording Academy, which oversees the Grammys, established the new category in June to recognize artistic excellence in Asian pop, including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop. BTS, a South Korean group, has refused to submit any music for the Grammy Awards this year, stating that music should not be divided by region or language. The sociologist Sylvie Octobre from France's Ministry of Culture told Le Figaro that the Grammys' decision is both "derogatory and racist," arguing that music made by Europeans should not be lumped together.

Some speculate that the Grammys may suffer if BTS boycotts the ceremony, as BTS has far more social media followers than the Grammys themselves. Spanish media also expressed outrage over the Grammys' plan to introduce a new category for "best Latin song" in 2027, arguing that this move further alienates BTS from the main categories, which are typically dominated by North American or British artists.

The Guardian criticized the Recording Academy's justification for the new category, stating that the "Asian and Latin pop markets are far from 'new'" and have already established significant revenues and audiences.