BTS fans around the world noticed something strange recently. The official Grammy website and YouTube channel no longer had the group’s past performance videos. The videos for “Dynamite” from 2021 and “Butter” from 2022 were gone.
This happened just days after BTS announced they would not submit music for the 2027 Grammy Awards. Many fans thought the Recording Academy removed the videos as payback for the boycott. But the Academy has now given a different explanation.
Recording Academy Explains Video Removal Was Not Revenge
The Recording Academy spoke to Korea JoongAng Daily about the missing videos. A representative said the removal was due to routine licensing expirations. The videos were taken down years ago as part of standard practice.
“Past BTS performances were removed from the Grammys website and YouTube years ago as part of routine licensing expirations,” a Recording Academy representative told Korea JoongAng Daily.
The Academy also explained that licensing terms for Grammy performances are usually short. Most licenses last for one year or less. This means the videos were removed long before BTS decided to skip the 2027 awards.
A representative further stated: “This is a standard practice for Grammy performances, as licensing terms vary and are typically limited to one year or less.”
Why BTS Decided to Skip the 2027 Grammy Awards
The video removal controversy started after BTS made a big decision. On July 29, 2026, all seven members posted the same statement on their social media accounts. They said they would not submit any music for the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 7, 2027.
The group wrote: “We decided not to submit our work for the upcoming Grammy Awards. We hope that music can be appreciated and loved for what it is, without being divided by region or language.”
This decision came after the Recording Academy announced a new category called Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The category was introduced in June 2026, just two months before the submission deadline of August 28.
The new rule requires songs to have at least one Asian language element to qualify. BTS’s recent studio album “ARIRANG” features mostly English tracks. Many critics argued this rule was created to keep Asian artists out of major categories like Song of the Year.
Fans React Strongly to Missing Performance Videos
BTS fans, known as ARMY, quickly noticed the videos were gone. They started sharing screenshots on social media showing that the links to the performances no longer worked.
Many fans believed the Recording Academy removed the videos as retaliation for the boycott. Some expressed their anger online, with hashtags criticizing the organization gaining traction.
One passionate fan wrote on the Recording Academy’s Instagram page: “You can rewrite the categories, but you can’t rewrite history. BTS didn’t change music to fit the Grammys, the Grammys changed because of artists like BTS. Records remember. Charts remember. Stadiums remember. Millions of us remember. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER. Awards recognize greatness. They don’t create it. DO BETTER.”
Another fan commented: “Jungkook’s live stream has more viewers than the Grammys’ live stream.”
A third fan simply wrote: “As of today, Grammys, you’ve lost my interest. Goodbye.”
Some fans pointed out that the videos are still available on BTS’s official YouTube channel. This fact made many fans question the Academy’s explanation even more.
The Controversy Over the New Asian Pop Category
The Best Asian Pop Music Performance category has been a major point of debate. The Recording Academy said the category was created to celebrate Asian music. But many artists and fans saw it differently.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. tried to calm the situation. He said: “The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists.”
He also clarified that artists can still compete in general categories like Record of the Year and Album of the Year. Mason added: “More categories mean more artists’ work is recognized. It’s never to divide, but to expand who is recognized by our 15,000 Grammy voters.”
Despite this, many people remained unhappy. Ted Chung, CEO of Hyundai Card and a known music enthusiast, shared his thoughts on social media. He wrote: “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? Most BTS songs use English, so how does that fit? I have never heard of dividing music by language.”
Music industry insiders also raised concerns. They argued that regional categories could keep non-Western artists in specific boundaries. This could limit their chances of gaining full recognition in the main categories.
BTS’s Grammy History and Achievements
BTS has a significant history with the Grammy Awards. They became the first K-pop group to perform at the Grammys in 2020. They joined Lil Nas X for the “Old Town Road All-Stars” performance.
In 2021, they gave their first standalone Grammy performance with “Dynamite.” The performance was pre-recorded. The following year, in 2022, they performed “Butter” live in Los Angeles. The spy-themed stage received widespread praise.
The group has received five Grammy nominations so far. They were nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2021 for “Dynamite” and again in 2022 for “Butter.” In 2023, they received nominations for Album of the Year for “Music of the Spheres” with Coldplay, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Coldplay for “My Universe,” and Best Music Video for “Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment).”
Despite these nominations, BTS has never won a Grammy.
What the Academy’s Explanation Means
The Recording Academy has made it clear that the video removal was not connected to the boycott. They said the videos were removed years ago due to licensing agreements. The Academy emphasized that this is normal practice for all Grammy performances.
However, the timing of the discovery created confusion. Fans only noticed the videos were missing after BTS announced their boycott. This led to widespread speculation online.
Some fans and online communities pointed out that the Academy has removed performance videos from many other artists as well. This suggests the removals were part of broader content management, not a targeted attack on BTS.
But many ARMY members remain unconvinced. They continue to share their frustrations on social media. Some fans have started re-uploading the missing clips across different platforms.
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BTS Continues Their Comeback Despite the Controversy
Despite the Grammy controversy, BTS is enjoying a successful comeback. Their latest album “ARIRANG” has been well received by fans.
The group recently entertained fans in New Jersey and has North American concerts scheduled through September. Their popularity remains strong, with millions of fans supporting them worldwide.
The boycott has started a larger conversation about how global artists are treated by major award shows. Many people are discussing whether the music industry is truly inclusive or if it still puts artists into boxes based on their origin.
BTS’s decision to skip the Grammys has gained support from many cultural leaders and fans. Their message about wanting music to be judged “for what it is” has resonated with people around the world.
As of now, the missing videos have not been restored on the Grammy website or YouTube channel. The Recording Academy has not indicated any plans to bring them back.
Also Read: Ricky Kej Backs BTS Grammy Boycott, Calls Decision a ‘Strong Stand’ Against New Asian Pop Category
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