BTS is boycotting the Grammys. It’s part of a long history of category controversies

Almost every single year, the Recording Academy updates the terminology and categories that it uses to recognize musicians at its annual Grammy Awards. In 2026, five new categories were introduced — including an award that sparked backlash from one of the most popular groups in the world: BTS. The best Asian pop music performance category, which will debut its inaugural slate of nominees next week, was created to award “contemporary popular music originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including K-Pop, J-Pop, and C-Pop.” But just over a month after the Recording Academy unveiled its plans for the award,…