The Recording Academy is facing a fresh storm of criticism after fans noticed that BTS’ past Grammy performances have been removed from its official website—shortly after the group announced it would not take part in the 2027 ceremony.
Live versions of the band’s global hits ‘Dynamite’ (2021) and ‘Butter’ (2022) can no longer be found on the Grammys site. The clips remain live on BTS’ own channels, but their disappearance from the Academy’s platform has sparked speculation and frustration among supporters worldwide. The organization has yet to explain the removals.
The timing has intensified scrutiny. The videos vanished soon after all seven members of BTS released a joint statement on July 29 confirming they will not enter the 69th Grammy Awards, due on Feb. 7, 2027.
“We decided not to submit our work for the upcoming Grammy Awards,” the group said. “We hope that music can be appreciated and loved for what it is, without being divided by region or language.”
The boycott is widely interpreted as a direct response to the Recording Academy’s newly created Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
Read more: BTS Opts Out of Grammys Amid Debate Over New Asian Music Category
Unveiled just two months ahead of the Aug. 28 submission cutoff, the award mandates that eligible songs include at least one Asian language. Critics say the rule effectively sidelines acts like BTS—whose latest album ‘ARIRANG’ is largely in English—from competing in top-tier fields such as Song of the Year.
Supporters argue the move risks boxing Asian artists into a separate lane rather than integrating them into the ceremony’s main stages.
The decision has drawn backing from prominent figures in South Korea’s cultural and business spheres. Among them is Ted Chung, CEO of Hyundai Card and a well-known music patron who has helped bring major global acts to Seoul.
“Is it a misunderstanding to see this as isolating Asian musicians into their own separate box?” Chung wrote on social media.
“By this logic, should Bad Bunny or Ricky Martin also be separated and only given Latin music awards? Most BTS songs use English, so how does that fit? I have never heard of dividing music by language.”
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. responded with a statement acknowledging the group’s choice while standing by the new category.
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“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,” Mason said.
Music insiders warn that regional subcategories, while intended to boost visibility, may unintentionally reinforce barriers. Some describe the risk as a form of “ghettoization,” where non-Western artists are acknowledged in side categories but excluded from the ceremony’s most prestigious honors.
The concern is that such structures could limit global acts from earning full recognition, even as the industry claims to be expanding diversity.
In response to the video removals, fans have taken matters into their own hands—re-uploading the missing performances across platforms and reminding the public that erasing clips doesn’t erase history.
