Three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej has publicly supported BTS for skipping the 2027 Grammy Awards. The Indian musician called the K-pop group’s move a “strong stand” against the Recording Academy’s newly created Best Asian Pop Performance category.
Kej, a Bengaluru-based composer who has won three Grammy Awards, wrote an opinion piece for Rolling Stone India. In it, he explained why he believes BTS made the right choice by not submitting their album ARIRANG for Grammy consideration.
“While I understand why BTS took a strong stand by skipping the Grammys entirely, this situation highlights a growing disconnect between how international artists are honored and how they are categorized.”
The debate started when BTS announced on July 29, 2026, that they would not submit music for the 2027 Grammy Awards. All seven members shared identical statements on social media. They said they hoped “music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language”.
This decision came after the Recording Academy introduced a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category on June 16, 2026. The category was meant to celebrate pop music from Asia. But many artists and fans saw it as a way to separate Asian musicians from mainstream categories.
Kej Says New Category ‘Misses the Mark’ on Inclusion
Ricky Kej did not hold back in his criticism of the new Grammy category. He said the move was “well-intentioned” but ultimately flawed.
“At first glance, these changes feel like long-awaited progress. However, my strong belief is that this approach misses the mark on what genuine global inclusion requires.”
Kej pointed out a major problem with the category’s structure. If an artist submits a song to Best Asian Pop Performance, that same track becomes ineligible for several genre-neutral awards. These include Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Dance/Electronic Recording, and Best Dance Pop Recording.
He also warned that even if BTS submitted to a broader pop category, Grammy committees could still move their entry to the Asian Pop category. This means Western artists like Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga would compete in main categories while BTS gets placed in a separate box.
The Category Ignores Most of Asia, Kej Argues
Kej raised another important concern. He said the category focuses too narrowly on East Asian pop music.
“They call it ‘Best Asian Pop,’ but they are specifically targeting K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop—that is, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese pop. What about the rest of Asia?”
He noted that Asia has incredible musical diversity. Countries like India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Israel have rich music traditions. But the new category does not properly represent them.
“When you create a category like this thinking you are being inclusive, you actually end up being exclusive by leaving out so many people.”
Kej Wrote an Open Letter to BTS
Beyond his opinion piece, Ricky Kej also wrote an open letter to BTS. He praised the group for taking a principled stand.
“I wanted to take a moment to reach out and say that I think you took a remarkably brave step in deciding not to submit your music to the Grammys this year.”
In the letter, Kej explained why the category creates an “illusion of inclusion”. He argued that BTS is no longer just a Korean phenomenon. They are a global force.
“It isn’t fair that a Western artist is categorized simply as ‘Pop Music,’ while a Korean artist is relegated to ‘Asian Pop.’ Music is a universal language, and it shouldn’t be compartmentalized by geography or native tongue.”
He ended the letter by hoping the Grammys would use this moment for real change.
Fans React to Kej’s Support
BTS fans, known as ARMY, quickly responded to Ricky Kej’s comments. Many expressed gratitude for his support.
The fan reaction came at a time when tensions between BTS and the Recording Academy were already high. The Grammys removed BTS performance videos from their official website and YouTube channel. Fans noticed that clips of “Dynamite” and “Butter” were no longer accessible.
One fan wrote, “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”.
Another fan pointed out the viewership gap, saying, “Jungkook’s live stream has more viewers than the Grammys’ live stream”. A third fan simply said, “As of today, Grammys, you’ve lost my interest. Goodbye”.
Some fans called the new category “inherently racist and outdated”. They believe BTS was right to reject being placed in a separate category.
BTS Has Been Nominated Five Times Without a Win
BTS has a long history with the Grammys. They received their first nomination in 2021. Since then, they have been nominated a total of five times. But they have never won in either a genre or general field category.
Kej believes this result comes from how the voting body is structured. He called for more voting members who live and work outside the United States.
The group’s album ARIRANG, released on March 20, 2026, was their first group album in nearly four years. The 14-track album is grounded in Korean cultural identity. Despite its success, BTS chose not to submit it for Grammy consideration.
Recording Academy Defends Its Decision
The Recording Academy has defended the new category. CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said it was created “to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia”.
He also stressed that artists who submit in the Asian Pop category remain eligible for General Field awards like Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.
But Kej and others argue this does not solve the underlying problem. The category still separates Asian artists from their Western peers.
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A Growing Debate About Global Representation
The BTS Grammy boycott has reignited a larger discussion about how award shows treat international artists.
Some music critics have pointed out that the Grammys are primarily an American award show. But with more people outside the United States caring about the Grammys than ever before, the Academy faces pressure to adapt.
Ricky Kej’s support adds weight to BTS’s decision. As a three-time Grammy winner himself, his criticism of the Academy carries significant authority. He knows how the system works from the inside.
“I have profound respect for the Academy’s core mission: to serve as the definitive standard for musical excellence and to elevate artists globally. This is precisely why I feel compelled to speak up.”
Kej’s message is clear. Real inclusion means allowing artists from all backgrounds to compete on the same level. It does not mean creating separate categories that isolate them.
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