K-pop Labels Avoid New Grammy Asian Pop Category
Major South Korean music companies opted out of the Recording Academy's new category amid criticism from fans.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Pop
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Major labels including HYBE, SM, JYP, and YG Entertainment have declined to submit music for the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category at the 69th Grammy Awards. The decision follows widespread fan concern that the new category serves to segregate K-pop from mainstream awards.
Why it matters
Fans and industry members worry the category effectively isolates K-pop artists rather than integrating them into primary award pools, leading some to perceive the addition as potentially discriminatory.
The new category received 116 total submissions for the 69th Grammy Awards. By comparison, the established Best Latin Song category garnered 519 entries.
The players
The Recording Academy
This is the organization responsible for presenting the annual Grammy Awards and defining its various music categories.
BTS
This is a globally renowned South Korean boy band that has been a leading force in the international expansion of K-pop.
JYP Entertainment
This is a major South Korean entertainment company and record label that manages high-profile K-pop groups like Stray Kids.
The details
While the Recording Academy confirmed on October 1 that the category would remain for the 2027 awards, major industry players have distanced themselves from the move. BTS publicly announced their decision to abstain from the category in July, and reports on October 15 confirmed that no major K-pop labels participated in the entry process.
Timeline
The Recording Academy announced the new award category in June 2026.
BTS announced they would not submit music to the category on July 29, 2026.
The Recording Academy confirmed the category would remain on October 1, 2026.
It was reported that major K-pop labels did not submit entries on October 15, 2026.
Grammy nominations will be announced on November 16, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The creation of this category at the 69th Grammy Awards reflects a broader struggle to balance the explosive global growth of K-pop with traditional award structures. This tension mirrors historical debates in the industry regarding how to categorize international music without risking marginalization.
The refusal of major labels to participate limits the potential for top-tier K-pop acts to be recognized within this specific Grammy category. Fans will see the final impact on nominee diversity when the Academy reveals the list in November.
The takeaway
The move by major K-pop labels highlights the growing influence of fandoms in dictating how their favorite artists engage with Western industry institutions. Listeners should monitor the November nominations to see how the Academy balances this industry pushback with its goal of global expansion.
What happens next
The Recording Academy will announce the official nominees for the 69th Grammy Awards on November 16, 2026.
Further reading
For more on evolving music industry trends, explore the Pop section.
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