ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Stray Kids Join BTS in Boycotting 2027 Grammys Over New Asian Pop Category

award · 2026-10-02

Stray Kids have aligned with BTS in their decision to boycott the 2027 Grammy Awards, prompted by the Recording Academy's introduction of a category specifically for Asian pop music. JYP has stated, "Stray Kids did not submit for the Grammys." BTS declared their boycott in July, advocating for their music to be recognized without geographical constraints. While Stray Kids have previously refrained from directly addressing the awards, they have prioritized fan satisfaction over accolades. This protest follows Grammy chief Harvey Mason Jr.'s announcement of the Asian pop category, which some critics believe could marginalize K-pop and J-Pop. Additionally, a rule mandating "meaningful use" of an Asian language excludes BTS and Blackpink. Stray Kids recently celebrated their ninth US number one album, with nominations set to be announced on December 10.

Key facts

  • Stray Kids are boycotting the 2027 Grammy Awards, joining BTS
  • Their label JYP stated: "Stray Kids did not submit for the Grammys"
  • BTS announced their boycott in July 2026 over the new Asian pop category
  • The Recording Academy introduced the Asian pop category in June
  • Grammy boss Harvey Mason Jr confirmed the category will proceed at the 2027 ceremony
  • Stray Kids recently scored their ninth US number one album; only The Beatles have more
  • All eight Stray Kids members received Grammy voting privileges earlier this year
  • Grammy nominations will be revealed on 10 December

Entities

Artists

  • Stray Kids
  • BTS
  • Hwang Hyun-jin
  • Elton John
  • Lorde
  • A$AP Rocky
  • Harvey Mason Jr
  • Blackpink
  • Bad Bunny
  • Rosalía
  • Kim Hong-joon
  • Ateez
  • The Beatles

Institutions

  • Grammy Awards
  • Recording Academy
  • JYP
  • Rock In Rio Festival
  • Governor's Ball
  • Variety Magazine

Locations

  • United States
  • New York
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Brazil
  • South Korea

Sources