K-pop giants Stray Kids join BTS in boycotting the Grammys

K-pop heavyweights Stray Kids join BTS in Grammy boycott

Stray Kids are among K-pop’s biggest live draws, and recently topped the bill at the Rock In Rio Festival alongside Elton John

One of the world’s biggest K-pop groups, Stray Kids, are joining BTS in boycotting the 2027 Grammy Awards.

The decision follows the launch of a disputed new category for Asian pop music, which critics worry could ghettoise genres such as K-Pop and J-Pop.

BTS said in July that they would not submit songs for consideration in any category, explaining that they hoped their music "can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language".

Stray Kids, who recently earned their ninth US number one album, have now done the same. In a brief statement, their label JYP said only: "Stray Kids did not submit for the Grammys."

Until now, Stray Kids had avoided giving a direct response when asked about the awards.

At a press conference in August for their latest album, This and That, singer Hwang Hyun-jin said: "We have never once set award results or records as our goal.

"Our top priority is for our fans to be happy and satisfied," he added.

The announcement will be a setback for the Recording Academy, which runs the Grammys.

Stray Kids are hugely popular in the US, and recently headlined New York’s Governor's Ball festival, appearing on the same lineup as Lorde and A$AP Rocky.

Earlier this year, all eight members of the group were granted voting rights at the awards, adding extra significance to their choice to withdraw. BTS are also voting members of the Academy.

Before deciding to boycott the Grammys, BTS had performed at the ceremony and received five nominations - although they have yet to win a prize

Stray Kids’ statement came hours after Grammys chief Harvey Mason Jr confirmed that the new Asian pop category would proceed at the 2027 ceremony.

"Over the past several weeks, the Academy has been conducting listening sessions and have been in dialogue with leaders of the Asian music community," he said in a statement.

"We heard candid feedback from people in our community who don't support the continuation of this category. We also heard from people who didn't have accurate information about the category, and having space to clear up misperceptions has been especially valuable.

"But by far, the loudest feedback we heard was from people who were enthusiastic supporters of the category, fellow music creators expressing their encouragement for keeping it."

He said the decision "will not satisfy everyone" but added that the Academy would keep discussing how the award develops.

Harvey Mason Jr said the Grammys would "keep striving to honour" music from Asia

The Recording Academy unveiled the new category in June, saying it would recognise "artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets".

The prize had been debated for years. It was ultimately introduced after Golden, from the movie K-pop Demon Hunters, became the first K-Pop song ever to win a Grammy this February.

"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 said at the time.

But the award drew a mixed response. Many argued it would prevent Asian artists from being recognised in the main categories.

Others objected to a rule that nominated songs must make "meaningful use" of an Asian language.

That condition excluded the two best-known Korean acts in America, BTS and Blackpink, whose latest releases are mainly in English.

The criticism of the Asian pop award echoes complaints from Latin artists about Grammy categories such as best música urbana.

Although the aim is to recognise music from a particular geographic or linguistic background, some musicians believe it becomes exclusionary, separating their work from major prizes like album or song of the year.

That view was challenged this year, when Bad Bunny's Debí Tirar Más Fotos became the first Spanish-language album to win album of the year. Rosalía's Lux is also expected to feature prominently in next year’s nominations.

BTS and Stray Kids would have been eligible for those awards, but have chosen instead to send a message to the Recording Academy.

Other major acts may have done likewise.

Earlier this week, Kim Hong-joon, leader of the popular boyband Ateez, said he had been impressed by BTS's position.

"I'd love to think about that too," he said in an interview with Variety Magazine.

"I'm not sure because no-one can know about the real reason they tried to make that [category]. No-one can recognise the real reason.

"But it seems like, for me... I agree [a little] with what BTS did."

We will find out who did decide to enter their music for consideration when the Grammy nominations are revealed on 10 December.