Recent confusion regarding the removal of BTS performance videos from the Grammy website has been clarified by the Recording Academy. Fans noticed that clips of the band’s performances, including Dynamite and Butter, were missing following the news that BTS would not submit music for next year’s awards. This sparked speculation about a potential boycott of the ceremony.
A spokesperson for the Recording Academy stated that the removal of these videos is standard procedure. Licensing terms for Grammy performances are typically limited to one year or less. Because these performances occurred several years ago, the rights to keep them on the organization's website and YouTube channels expired. The Academy maintains that this is a routine action taken for all artists.
The timing of the removal coincides with public discourse regarding the Grammys' new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. Critics argue that the introduction of this specific category risks segregating Asian artists and limits their opportunities to compete in major general categories like Record of the Year. Fans have expressed concern that this move minimizes the impact of global acts who have already achieved significant commercial success.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. addressed these concerns by defending the new category. He stated that the intent is to celebrate the growth and diversity of music coming out of Asia. He noted that submitting music to this genre-specific category does not prevent an artist from competing in the General Field awards. The organization maintains that the focus remains on recognizing artistic achievement across all global markets.