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

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.

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. It was finally 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 received a decidedly mixed reception. Many felt it would stop Asian artists from receiving recognition in the main categories.

Others were upset by a stipulation that nominated songs should make "meaningful use" of an Asian language.

That requirement ruled out the two most recognisable Korean acts in America, BTS and Blackpink, whose latest releases are primarily sung in English.

The arguments against the Asian pop award are similar to those made by Latin artists about Grammy categories such as best música urbana.

While the intent is to recognise music of a certain geographic or linguistic origin, some musicians feel it ends up being exclusionary, with their music segregated from mainstream prizes like album or song of the year.

That perception 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 heavily in the nominations for next year's awards.