.@bts_bighit refuse to submit to Grammys in response to new Asian Pop category: “We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is” https://t.co/Fdu9anCKAi
K-pop group BTS will skip the next Grammy Awards, declining to submit music after the Recording Academy created a separate Asian pop category. https://t.co/Neu4PIyQvs
Namjoon, I KNOW you didn’t post your Grammy story alongside that photo of yourself holding the newspaper in the 2.0 MV by accident. Just hear me out.
Here’s what I found in the articles printed in the newspaper he’s holding:
“Brand New 2.0 Launches… Complete Strategic Overhaul.”
“The newly unveiled ‘Version 2.0 Update’ is expected to mark a major turning point—not merely as a software upgrade, but as a transformation capable of reshaping humanity’s digital DNA.”
“While the 1.0 era was defined by one-way information delivery, the 2.0 era empowers users to take control of the flow of information and create entirely new forms of value.”
“This will bring about a revolutionary change. The dawn of the ‘Brand New’ era has already begun, and companies or individuals who fail to adapt will inevitably be left behind.”
“According to recently released performance figures, they have achieved over 200% growth compared to previous results, shattering every industry record in the process. Cheers are now heard everywhere, and every project they touch turns into a massive success, proving once again that they truly possess the Midas touch.”
“Rather than being constrained by convention, they continue to forge new paths with fearless determination.”
The newspaper’s narrative aligns so closely with what BTS have been trying to tell us.
They’ve entered a new 2.0 era—one that can no longer be defined or contained by the boundaries of the industry. They outgrew those boundaries a long time ago, becoming a turning point that changed the very DNA of the modern music industry.
The 2.0 era is about BTS defining the rules of the game themselves and creating new value. It’s an era where Grammy recognition no longer seems to be the ultimate goal. Instead, they’re focusing on what truly matters: making music that isn’t judged by its language or where it comes from.
The success of ARIRANG exceeded every possible expectation, breaking industry records—exactly what the newspaper talks about. They’ve also made it clear that they want to create music without being confined by the industry’s long-established rules.
This doesn’t read like a protest against the Grammys. It feels more like a declaration that they’ve outgrown those boundaries. It’s not about fighting the system—it’s about moving beyond it.
We don’t need the Grammys to define the value of our music anymore. WE’RE GOING TO MAKE MUSIC FOR THE SAKE OF MUSIC.
That’s what I took away from all of this.
And this is exactly why I love Namjoon. He’s a genius. He never posts anything without intention—there’s always a reference, always another layer to uncover.
I LOVE HIS SEXY BRAIN.
[Teen Vogue] #BTS Decided Not to Submit ‘Arirang’ to Grammys 2027 After New Best Asian Music Category
It can be seen as part of a history of gatekeeping non-white artists from major award categories.
The Grammys creating new categories is nothing new, but increasingly the motives behind those inclusions seem to raise more questions than celebrations. For decades, Latin artists have been relegated to accolades only from the Latin Grammys, and while those awards have value and merit, it's odd to to have most of these artists' impact reduced to a relatively “local” market despite accounting for more than a quarter of all listening worldwide on platforms like Spotify.
"Creating new avenues and accolades to recognize talent from all corners of the world is not something to be diminished and should always be celebrated, but when those avenues become the only road for those artists to walk, the line between merit and consolation becomes patently blurred
..Their decision to bow out and forgo a diluted version of their long-held aspiration is even more commendable. And we need more stances like that.
https://t.co/5UADopeAPm
#WeStandWithBTS
[INFO] #BTS “Dynamite” has re-entered in 45 countries on iTunes following their performance at the World Cup Halftime Show! 🌎🔥
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💥 "Cause I, I, I'm in the stars tonight..."
BTS delivers an unforgettable performance of "Dynamite" on football's biggest stage. 🌍🏆
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