K-pop supergroup Stray Kids did not submit any music for the 69th Grammy Awards before the August 21 deadline, joining fellow icons BTS in withholding work from the upcoming ceremony. The decision follows intense debate over the Recording Academy’s newly created Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
The absence of two of the genre’s biggest acts sets up an unusual race for the Recording Academy’s controversial new category ahead of the February 7, 2027 ceremony. While BTS announced their boycott in July in protest of the prize, Stray Kids’ non-submission came to light after reports surfaced that the group left their catalog out of consideration before the portal closed. On October 2, Sports Kyunghyang reported that Stray Kids did not submit any work, and a JYP Entertainment representative subsequently confirmed the decision.
The friction centers on the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, introduced in June alongside four other awards for the 2027 show. The Academy designed the prize to recognize artistic achievement in styles originating from or recognized within Asian markets, requiring meaningful use of an Asian language.
“As Asian pop’s influence has continued to grow within our process, our members and trustees felt this was the right moment to create a category that more accurately reflects the genre’s scale, artistry and global impact,”
Organisers
Yet the reception proved deeply fractured. BTS announced in July that they would withhold their upcoming 2026 album ARIRANG from consideration.
“I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language,”
BTS, via Variety
Recording Academy Confirms the Asian Pop Category Will Stand for 2027
Following weeks of backlash and industry discussion, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. addressed the controversy in a statement released on October 1. He confirmed that the award will move forward as planned for its first year.
While acknowledging candid criticism from opponents who felt the award segregates artists, Mason emphasized that supporters outnumbered detractors.
“We understand this conclusion will not satisfy everyone, and that never feels good. But at the same time, we are confident it’s the right conclusion for the music community overall. As is the case with all our categories, we will continue to diligently engage with the music community and keep striving to honor this music — and all music — in the best possible way. We look forward to celebrating the Asian Pop Music Performance nominees at the 2027 Grammy Awards.”
Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, via Variety
The debate mirrors historical complaints surrounding the Latin Grammys, where artists have frequently raised concerns that genre-specific segregation keeps foreign-language acts out of general categories. Criticisms echoed outside the organization as well. Three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej argued in an interview that the prize relegates Asian performers to their own corner instead of putting them on an equal table with Western artists. Kej noted that Asia is an incredibly diverse continent encompassing Middle Eastern, Sufi, Eastern European, and varied Indian musical forms alongside modern pop styles.
The Wide Open Race for the First Asian Pop Nominees
With BTS and Blackpink—whose all-English tracks on February’s Deadline miss the linguistic eligibility threshold—sitting out, the field for the category’s debut year remains wide open.
Despite prominent boycotts, the Academy reports receiving a high number of submissions for the new prize. First-round voting kicks off on October 12, with official nominees set to be announced on November 17 ahead of the February 7, 2027 gala.