SEOUL: BTS has decided not to submit music for the upcoming Grammy Awards, with its agency HYBE addressing the move and clarifying that it is not a company-wide boycott but a response to concerns over reported award process changes.
HYBE, the agency behind the globally acclaimed K-pop group, said it was difficult to accept the reported Grammy screening changes, especially at a time when BTS was considered a strong contender for major awards.
However, the company clarified that the decision applies only to BTS and does not represent a broader boycott by HYBE artists. An official said that other artists under the agency who wish to participate will continue with their Grammy submissions as scheduled.
🚨 HYBE stated, “This is not a boycott at the company level.” An official said, “If other artists under our agency wish to submit entries, we plan to proceed with the submissions as scheduled.”
In the music industry, analysts suggest that BTS’s declaration could influence the… pic.twitter.com/gq3IJTT6fG
— BTS Charts & News (@btschartsxdaily) July 29, 2026
BTS members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook reportedly considered their participation until the final stage before deciding not to submit their work. HYBE said the group made the decision after careful consideration, believing a cautious approach was necessary for the future of the music industry and K-pop.
The move is widely seen as a response to reports that K-pop artists could be placed in separate Grammy categories instead of competing directly in the broader general-field categories.
Music industry analysts believe BTS’s decision could influence discussions around other major international awards, as several US music award shows have recently introduced dedicated K-pop categories.
Neither BTS nor HYBE has called for other artists to follow the same decision. However, the announcement has drawn significant attention due to BTS’s global popularity and the major audience impact the group’s participation has historically generated.
The Recording Academy could face the absence of one of the world’s most influential music acts, as BTS’s appearances at major events have consistently attracted worldwide attention and viewership.
