Notice BTS didn't insult them. They basically said they're done because of the difference in value and that's that. Meanwhile members of the RA are crashing out, insulting them and their work, and calling critics and the public names on social media.
ᯓ𑣲 𝟯𝟬𝟬𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗦 ☑️
WILLIAMEST WESLEY SPIDEY
#SFxWilliamEstWesley
WilliamEst is wave
WilliamEst is tide
WilliamEst is sea
WilliamEst is ocean
WilliamEst is coral
WilliamEst is shell
WilliamEst is salt
WilliamEst is foam
WilliamEst is drift
WilliamEst is breeze
WilliamEst is island
WilliamEst is reef
WilliamEst is current
WilliamEst is blue
WilliamEst is deep
Harvey Mason Jr.’s response is a masterclass in corporate gaslighting that completely ignores how the Recording Academy actually operates.
While the "separate but equal" defense sounds perfectly reasonable on paper, anyone who closely follows the music industry knows that sub-categories are routinely used as containment zones for diverse artists. The Grammys have a long, documented history of using genre and regional brackets to keep non-Western, non-white, and non-English-speaking acts away from the Big Four main stages.
The Structural Flaws in the CEO's Argument
The Vote-Splitting Reality: Mason claims genre categories do not exclude artists from the General Field (Album, Record, and Song of the Year). However, in practice, the 15,000 Grammy voters use these niche categories as a convenient box to check. Once an artist is tucked safely away in a regional or genre slot, voters rarely feel compelled to reward them in the top-tier categories.
The "Urban" Parallel: We have seen this exact playbook before. For years, Black artists were systematically funneled into the "Urban Contemporary" or R&B categories while being locked out of Album of the Year. The Academy renamed the category after intense backlash, but the structural habit of keeping diverse, chart-topping music out of the main spotlight remains identical.
Clout Chasing vs. Artistic Respect: The Academy's sadness over BTS’s withdrawal is deeply financial. The Grammys desperately need the massive social media impressions, live viewership, and cultural relevance that global acts bring to a dying linear television broadcast. They want the traffic, but they refuse to evolve their voting pool to genuinely evaluate global music on equal footing.
The Language and Geography Barrier: Music is a universal medium. By drawing a geographic boundary around pop music coming out of Asia, the Academy is fundamentally stating that Western pop is the "default" and everything else is a foreign anomaly requiring a special, segregated spotlight.
BTS's decision to withhold their submissions is a monumental power move. They are exposing the fact that the industry's most prestigious institution relies on outdated, Western-centric biases, proving that true global impact no longer requires a stamp of approval from a stagnant committee.
Back in February, when we dropped our #BTS cover story, RM dropped some hints that the Grammys weren't the band's top priority these days. Just today, the band announced via coordinated Instagram posts that they “have decided not to submit for Grammy consideration this year.”
“We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. We thank Army and everyone who has always stood by us,” the message said.
Revisit the cover story for more about what BTS is thinking about in 2026: https://t.co/r12K9exeMi
BTS pulls out of #Grammys consideration and will not submit for the awards.
“We have decided not to submit for Grammy consideration this year. We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. We thank Army and everyone who has always stood by us,” reads a statement from all members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook.
https://t.co/1A5D5cjEwr
it’s a win for us. any group that does submit for a category that was created to segregate Asian artists will go down in history as spineless and desperate. BTS have integrity, self-respect, and strength in genuine support— the most admirable award there is.
Critic Lim praises BTS' decision to skip this year's GRAMMY submissions:
— “The fact that a single Asian artist has rebelled against a massive awards ceremony and opened a forum for public discourse demanding change demonstrates immense influence in itself.”
i dont think y’all realize how fucking cool it is to just openly announce you are not submitting for the grammys because of their mistreatment. it takes a lot to have that kind of courage. they said FUCK that racist organization. BTS are truly the most inspiring artists ever
BTS spent years opening doors that weren’t built for them. now they have the freedom to decide which ones are worth walking through. bts are truly living legends.