Stray Kids have given no reason. JYP Entertainment confirmed the group filed no entry for the 69th Grammy Awards, but offered no explanation and would not say if the new Asian Pop category played a part. Any “why” is therefore based on timing and context, not on a statement from the group. This explainer keeps to what has been reported.
What happened
Stray Kids did not submit music for the 2027 Grammys. Sports Kyunghyang reported on October 2 that the group sent nothing before the August 21 deadline. A JYP representative then confirmed it.
Under Grammy rules, work that is not submitted cannot appear on the voting ballot. That means Stray Kids cannot be nominated this cycle. The 69th Grammy Awards will be held on February 7, 2027.
Media outlets framed the move as joining BTS. The Korea JoongAng Daily headlined it as joining the BTS boycott over the Asian Pop category. That label comes from the press. JYP has not used the word boycott.
The new category
The Recording Academy created a new award for 2027. It is called Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The Academy announced it in June.
The category covers songs that make significant use of Asian languages. Songs sung entirely in English are not eligible.
The category set off a debate. Some asked whether it widens recognition for Asian artists or separates them from the main competition. Critics in South Korea have called it segregation, not inclusion.
What BTS did first
BTS acted before Stray Kids. On July 29, the group announced it would not submit its music for Grammy consideration. Their message said they hoped music would be heard for what it is, beyond region or language.
BTS did not list detailed reasons. Their label, Hybe, said this was not a company-wide boycott. Hybe also kept the door open to future Grammy participation.
The BTS statement is the closest thing to an explanation in this story. Stray Kids have not repeated or endorsed it.
What Stray Kids said in August
Stray Kids were asked about the Grammys before the deadline. The questions came at an August 6 press conference in Seoul for their 10th EP, “This & That.”
The members did not answer directly. They stressed music over awards. Seungmin said the group had never aimed at a specific award or achievement when releasing an album. Hyunjin made a similar point.
JYP also declined to comment when The Korea Herald asked about submission plans.
So the group neither confirmed nor ruled out a protest. Their public line was about their approach to making music.
Why the move drew so much attention
Several facts made this decision stand out.
First, Stray Kids were seen as a top contender. Billboard named them among the leading contenders for the new category. The group has topped the Billboard 200 nine times.
Second, they have a history with the Grammys. At the 68th Grammy Awards last February, Stray Kids were among the K-pop acts that submitted entries. Skipping this year is a change from that.
Third, they hold voting rights. All eight members were invited this year to become Recording Academy voters. They can help pick nominees and winners, even though their own music is not in the race.
The timing of the Academy’s decision
The Academy’s response is part of the timeline. Sports Kyunghyang reported that the Academy gathered input from Asian music industry figures, including Hybe, on October 1. It decided to keep the category.
The Stray Kids news came less than a day after the Academy said it would present the award as planned. The same report says the Grammys later suggested the category could be revised.
The August 21 deadline had already passed by then. The non-submission was fixed before the Academy’s October announcement. The October confirmation is what made it public.
What now?
The Academy has signaled it may adjust the category. Any change could affect how both groups approach future cycles. BTS’s label has already said the door stays open.
Attention is now on whether other K-pop acts will follow BTS and Stray Kids. No other group has confirmed such a move as of October 4, 2026.
- BTS
- Korean star
- stray kids
