One of the world's biggest K-pop groups, Stray Kids, are joining BTS in boycotting the 2027 Grammy Awards. The move comes after the introduction of a controversial new category for Asian pop music, which critics fear will ghettoise genres like K-Pop and J-Pop. BTS announced they would not submit songs for consideration in any category in July, saying 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 scored their ninth US number one album, have now followed suit. In a short statement, their record label JYP simply said: "Stray Kids did not submit for the Grammys." Stray Kids had previously refrained from giving a direct answer to questions about the awards. During a press conference for their latest album, This and That, in August, 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 news will come as a blow to the Recording Academy, which organises the Grammys. Stray Kids are phenomenally popular in the US, and recently headlined the Governor's Ball festival in New York, sharing the bill with Lorde and A$AP Rocky.
Earlier this year, all eight members of the band were given voting privileges at the awards, which gives additional weight to their decision to withdraw. BTS are also voting members of the Academy. Stray Kids' announcement came hours after Grammys boss Harvey Mason Jr confirmed the new Asian pop category would go ahead 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 acknowledged that the decision "will not satisfy everyone" but said the Academy would continue to have discussions over the development of the award. The Recording Academy announced 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 under discussion for years.
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