The timing also comes amid renewed backlash for the Grammys this year after BTS confirmed they would boycott the 2027 ceremony, rejecting the Recording Academy’s new Asian Pop category. The Butter hitmakers argued that the award’s language requirement—demanding “meaningful use” of an Asian language—actually boxed artists in rather than celebrating them. All seven members posted the same message announcing they would not submit any music, contending that songs should be judged on impact, not geography or vocabulary. Their decision arrived even as “Swim,” their United States No. 1 hit, was widely tipped as a major contender for Song of the Year—yet its English-only lyrics would have made it ineligible for the new category.
Recording Academy chief Harvey Mason Jr spent the summer trying to quell the controversy, acknowledging that the category hadn’t landed as the organization intended. He said the body had conducted weeks of talks with artists who felt the prize did not reflect the work they are creating, stressing that the Grammys must ensure “no voice or community gets overlooked or misunderstood.” Mason insisted the category was designed to broaden recognition, not divide musicians, and said the Academy stood ready to act quickly to ensure artists “feel truly seen and heard.”
The 2027 Grammys are set to take place on February 7.
