Salim Merchant Comments on BTS Skipping Grammys

Aug 2, 2026

56 min

Aug 2, 2026 12:30

Salim Merchant on BTS skipping Grammys: 'The Recording Academy serves American artistes first'

## BTS Opts Out of Grammy Submissions

BTS has decided not to submit their music for the 2027 Grammy Awards, following the introduction of a new category for Best Asian Pop Music Performance. This decision comes as a response to the Recording Academy's perceived focus on American artists, according to Indian composer Salim Merchant.

## Merchant's Perspective

Merchant expressed that the Academy has historically prioritized American artists, leaving international acts with limited chances in major categories. He highlighted that non-American entries often end up in niche categories, which he believes diminishes their recognition.

## Grammy Campaign Challenges

Merchant pointed out the challenges faced by international artists in navigating the Grammy submission process. He cited examples of successful Indian artists like AR Rahman and Ricky Kej, who had strong American representation or collaborations that boosted their Grammy prospects.

## Recording Academy's Response

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. responded to BTS's decision, emphasizing that the new Asian Pop category aims to celebrate Asian artists' contributions. He assured that genre-specific categories do not exclude artists from competing in the general field, aiming to expand recognition rather than segregate.

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