BTS' Grammy boycott spreads to K-pop's biggest agencies

The decision of BTS to boycott the Grammys has expanded beyond the individual group to encompass the music industry in Korea, according to reports. Artists from the country's four largest entertainment companies—HYBE, YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and SM Entertainment—are reportedly refusing to submit their music for consideration in the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category for the upcoming 69th Grammy Awards.

This comes after The Grammy Guru analysis site reported that none of the artists under these agencies submitted songs for the category, which was recently introduced by the Recording Academy. The new category encompasses Asian pop genres, including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop. However, the move has sparked discussions about whether grouping Asian artists into a region-specific category may inadvertently separate them from the broader Grammy competition rather than enhance their recognition.

BTS had previously announced it would not submit music for Grammy consideration, framing their decision as a protest against the award show's new Asian pop category. The group emphasized that they hope music can be appreciated for its intrinsic qualities rather than being categorized by region or nationality.