Grammy boycott debate turns toward K-pop acts that submitted
Fans were angry at the Grammys/Recording Academy for creating the new Asian pop category, but some of that anger is now directed at K-pop acts that reportedly submitted for the category. The academy has not officially disclosed which acts entered the category, though some have been named in local media outlets. Criticism has mounted in some online fan communities, with people questioning whether…
Fans were initially angered by the Grammys' Recording Academy for introducing a new Asian pop category. However, some of that frustration has now shifted towards K-pop acts that reportedly entered the category. The academy has not officially confirmed which acts submitted, but local media outlets have named a few. This has sparked criticism in online fan communities, with some questioning whether these acts should compete in a category viewed as discriminatory, and others asking if they genuinely want to win a potentially racist award.
The debate began in June when the academy announced the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, set to debut at the 69th Grammy Awards in February 2027. This category allows recordings to incorporate one or more Asian languages, but the Korean music industry has raised concerns that it could isolate K-pop into a separate category rather than acknowledging it in the main categories.
The controversy reached a boiling point on July 29 when boy band BTS announced they were considering entering the category.
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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- Grammy boycott debate turns toward K-pop acts that submitted koreatimes.co.kr
