On July 29, pop royalty BTS surprised everyone by choosing not to submit their hit album Arirang for the upcoming Grammy Awards. The news spread like wildfire and sparked discussions around the world. Many fans felt disappointed while others wondered about the reasons behind the move. Soon after, the Grammy CEO gave a response. Things grew more intense when a member of the awards committee spoke out strongly against the group’s choice. Read on to know more about it.
How Did The GRAMMY Committee Member React To BTS’s Decision?
A person closely involved in shaping the awards also shared her views, which drew heated reactions from many sides. Zeena Koda, who serves on the advisory committee for The Recording Academy’s Gold Music Alliance, posted several messages about BTS and their decision. She explained the challenges of updating Grammy categories to better support Asian artists. According to her, the new category aimed to highlight rising talents who needed more attention, not established global superstars like BTS. She noted that the group could have entered other pop categories instead.
BTS were nothing but respectful in their statements, they made NO DEMANDS, cussed no one out, nothing, just stated what they felt and moved on.
This woman feeling torn down by that simple statement need to take a hard look at what they are doing via this category but instead… https://t.co/4GtJMAP33y— MJ ⊙⊝⊜ (@mj_alwayss) July 30, 2026
Zeena Koda pointed out that decisions come from a group of music professionals who care deeply about fair representation. She said the goal was to create a first step toward greater visibility for Asian creators in the music industry. This effort, she added, came from years of hard work by many people behind the scenes. She felt sad that the situation turned into a public debate instead. In her view, the move by BTS created the wrong impression and hurt progress for the wider Asian music community.
Also Read: EPIK HIGH’s Tablo Applauds BTS’ Move To Not Submit Arirang For Grammys. A Supportive Senior!
Many people reacted to her comments with concern and anger. They questioned the thinking behind the new category and who it was truly meant for. BTS fans, known as ARMYs, showed strong reactions over claims that the group sought media attention.
What are your thoughts on it? Let us know all about it.
Also Read: Grammy CEO’s Blunt Response To BTS Not Submitting Arirang Leaves Fans Furious!