Grammys removes BTS performance videos from website.
The Recording Academy, host of the Grammy Awards, has faced criticism after removing historic performance videos of K-pop superstars BTS from its official website. These videos, which featured performances of "Dynamite" and "Butter," were no longer accessible on the Grammys site, despite still being available through the group's own channels.
The removal occurred shortly after all seven members of BTS announced they would not submit their music for the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 7, 2027. In a joint statement issued on July 29, the band expressed its hope that "music can be appreciated and loved for what it is, without being divided by region or language."
This decision came in response to the Recording Academy's newly established Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which was announced just two months before the submission deadline. The category requires songs to feature at least one Asian language to qualify, a rule that critics argue was created specifically to exclude artists like BTS from major categories such as Song of the Year.
The controversy quickly garnered support from prominent cultural figures in Korea, including Ted Chung, CEO of Hyundai Card and a music enthusiast who has curated Seoul's major concert series. In a social media post, Chung questioned the logic behind segregating Asian musicians into their own category: "Is it a misunderstanding to see this as isolating Asian musicians into their own separate box? By this logic, should Bad Bunny or Ricky Martin also be separated and only given Latin music awards?"
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. attempted to address the controversy by expressing respect for BTS's decision while defending the new category. In a statement, he said, "I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision."
Industry insiders point out potential downsides of regional categories, suggesting they might limit artists from gaining full recognition. From this perspective, separate subcategories could lead to the ghettoization of non-Western music.
Following the video removals, fans around the world began re-uploading the missing clips across social media platforms. Many users emphasized that deleting videos from a website does not negate BTS's past accomplishments on the Grammy stage.
