Grammys explain why BTS videos disappeared from website

The official Grammy website has removed videos of BTS's past performances of "Dynamite" and "Butter," sparking questions among the group's fans, known as ARMY. Speculation arose that the removal was linked to BTS's recent announcement that they would not be submitting their music for the 2027 awards.

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This is standard practice for Grammy performances, as license terms vary and are typically limited to one year or less.

However, a representative from the Recording Academy clarified that the content was taken down because the usage licenses had expired. "This is standard practice for Grammy performances, as license terms vary and are typically limited to one year or less," the representative told the Korea JoongAng Daily. This explanation refutes fan theories connecting the removal to the band's future award participation.

Earlier, BTS announced via social media that they would not be inscribing their music for the upcoming awards. This decision followed the Recording Academy's June announcement of a new award category: Best Asian Pop Performance. The introduction of this category has drawn criticism from K-pop fans who believe it could hinder Asian artists from competing on an equal footing with Western performers. Concerns were also raised that albums like "Arirang," which include English lyrics, might not qualify for this new distinction, as the regulations reportedly require a significant use of an Asian language.

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We hope that music can be heard and appreciated for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. defended the new category, stating that "presenting music in an Asian pop genre category... does not preclude an artist from also competing in the general categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year." He expressed regret over BTS's decision, emphasizing that the new award is not intended to limit opportunities.

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Presenting music in an Asian pop genre category... does not preclude an artist from also competing in the general categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.