Entertainment · K-Culture & Anime · 3 hrs ago
K-pop submissions are sparse for Grammys’ new Asian pop category
K-pop entries are scarce in the new Asian pop category at the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled for February.
IVE, KiiiKiii, Fifty Fifty and Park Hyo-shin were the only Korean acts reported to have submitted entries in that category.
BTS said it would not submit music, arguing that music should be heard beyond regional or language divisions.
HYBE, SM, YG and JYP also made no submissions to the category, while Japanese artists including Hikaru Utada, Kenshi Yonezu and Ado entered songs.
The Recording Academy created the category for contemporary popular music widely recognized in Asian markets, with a requirement that at least one Asian language be used meaningfully.
Korean artists submitted work in other Grammy categories, including pop duo or group performance, where Jennie’s “Dracula” and KATSEYE’s “Animal” are among the entries.
The submissions will be considered for Grammy nominations, and commentators have said a Korean nominee or winner in the new category could raise the profile of Korean music.
K-pop submissions to the Grammys’ new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category are limited to four acts, while Japanese artists have submitted numerous entries.
IVE, KiiiKiii, FIFTY FIFTY and Park Hyo-shin are the only K-pop artists reported to have entered the category.
BTS said in July that it would not submit work, saying music should not be divided by region or language; HYBE, SM, YG and JYP also submitted no work to the category.
The Recording Academy announced the category in June for contemporary popular music widely recognized in Asian markets, with a requirement that at least one Asian language be used meaningfully.
K-pop artists have submitted work to other Grammy categories, including Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
- Who
- K-pop artists and other Asian artists seeking nominations for the 69th Grammy Awards.
- What
- K-pop submissions to the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category are sparse, while Japanese artists have submitted many entries.
- When
- The awards are scheduled for next February. Submissions were reported in October 2026.
- Where
- The Grammy Awards, organized by the Recording Academy.
- Why
- BTS said it would not submit work because it believes music should not be divided by region or language. An industry source suggested other K-pop artists largely shared the boycott’s purpose.
BTS
Recording Academy
Category rationale
BTS
BTS said music should be heard and loved as music itself rather than divided by region or language.
Recording Academy
The Academy said the new category is for contemporary popular music widely recognized in Asian markets and requires meaningful use of at least one Asian language.
The Recording Academy announced plans for the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
BTS said it would not submit work, arguing that music should not be divided by region or language.
Yonhap reported that four K-pop acts had entered the Asian pop category, alongside numerous Japanese artists.
The 69th Grammy Awards are scheduled to take place.
- K-pop entries in Asian pop
- Four acts: IVE, KiiiKiii, FIFTY FIFTY and Park Hyo-shin
- Category name
- Best Asian Pop Music Performance
- Category language rule
- At least one Asian language must be used meaningfully
- Japanese entries
- Artists include Hikaru Utada, Kenshi Yonezu, King Gnu and YOASOBI
- Major K-pop agencies
- HYBE, SM, YG and JYP submitted no work to the category
1 source
What people are saying
We hope that music can be heard and loved as music itself, rather than being divided by region or language.
The creation of the Asian Pop category means that opportunities for Asian singers will expand.
If a Korean singer reaches the final nominations and wins, it could be an opportunity to show that we are a music powerhouse.