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The Grammy Awards’ first Best Asian Pop Pusic Performance category will go ahead during the 2027 awards ceremony, but without two of the current biggest names in K-pop: BTS and Stray Kids.

BTS announced in July that it would not submit music for consideration for the 2027 Grammy Awards, objecting to the newly created category and saying it hoped music could be appreciated without being divided by region or language.

Stray Kids also made the choice to sit out this year’s submissions process. JYP Entertainment confirmed on Friday that the group did not submit any music before the Aug. 21 deadline, though the agency did not disclose a reason or say whether the decision was related to the Asian pop category.

The Recording Academy, meanwhile, confirmed last week that the award will proceed as planned, saying it had received a “robust” number of submissions despite the controversy.

But with BTS and Stray Kids — two of K-pop’s most globally prominent acts and potential contenders — out of the running, questions remain over what their absence could mean for the inaugural award and whether their decisions could influence other K-pop artists considering the category.

“The absence of BTS and Stray Kids will inevitably affect how the first Asian pop Grammy is perceived,” said music critic Lim Hee-yun. “The category can still establish credibility through the artists who participate, but when one of the most internationally recognized Asian acts chooses not to compete because it disagrees with the premise of the category, that becomes part of the context surrounding the award.”

The Recording Academy initially introduced the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category in June to recognise pop music originating from or widely recognised within Asian markets. Eligible recordings must feature meaningful use of at least one Asian language.

The category quickly drew criticism over whether defining Asian pop partly through geography and language could separate Asian artists from the broader pop landscape rather than expand their recognition.

Following BTS’ announcement, the Recording Academy held discussions with figures across Asian music industries and considered the feedback surrounding the new award. CEO Harvey Mason Jr. ultimately confirmed on Thursday that the category would remain, saying the Recording Academy heard opposition but that support from music creators was substantially stronger.

The reported volume of submissions suggests that BTS’ decision has not triggered an industry-wide rejection of the category, but whether it influences K-pop artists and agencies remains less clear.

“The industry is well aware of BTS and Stray Kids’ decisions to boycott the Grammys, but that does not necessarily mean other K-pop artists will follow suit,” an industry official said on condition of anonymity. “The Grammys remain a highly prestigious and symbolic award, so there are certainly artists who would still want to pursue one.”

At the same time, the official added that it is “difficult to ignore the concerns raised by the artists who choose to boycott and the K-pop fans who support their stance.”

Lim also added, “Rather than K-pop collectively pulling out of the Grammys together, we are more likely to see artists and agencies making individual approaches.”

Ateez leader Hongjoong’s recent comments illustrate that tension. In a recent interview with Variety on Sept 26, Hongjoong added that while winning a Grammy is “a dream” for himself and Ateez, he added that he personally agrees with BTS’ decision and that he also believes that music “has no boundary.”

Final nominees for the 2027 Grammy Awards will be announced on the Grammys’ official website on Nov 16.

This story was originally published on The Korea Herald, an ANN partner of Dawn