SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s major music powerhouses—HYBE, SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment—have notably withheld submissions for the inaugural Best Asian Pop Music Performance category at the upcoming Grammy Awards, according to reports.
Information shared by industry tracker account The Grammy Guru reveals that none of the four entertainment companies, widely recognized as K-pop’s “Big 4,” have put forward any of their artists for consideration in the newly established category, which is slated to debut at the 69th Grammy Awards on February 7, 2027.
Designed to highlight exceptional performances across Asian pop genres like K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, the new category has faced industry conversations regarding the regional and linguistic classification of music.
This collective abstention follows a major announcement in July by global phenomenon BTS, stating they would not submit any tracks for the 2027 ceremony.
“We hope that music can be heard and loved for its own sake, rather than being categorized by region or language,” BTS expressed in their official statement.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. previously verified the addition of the Best Asian Pop Music Performance field for the 2027 show.
Meanwhile, the initial voting phase for the 69th Grammys is underway from October 12 to 22, with the official nominees scheduled to be revealed on November 16.