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SEOUL: Global K-pop sensation BTS said on Wednesday they will not submit their music for next year’s Grammy Awards, following the Recording Academy’s introduction of new categories that include the Best Asian Pop Music Performance.

The South Korean megastars had been widely tipped to be in the running for several of the Grammys top honours, including Album of the Year, after their comeback album, ARIRANG, became one of this year’s best-selling hits.

“We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year,” BTS members said in coordinated posts on their individual Instagram accounts. “We hope that music is heard and loved for what it is, rather than being defined by region or language,” they said.

BTS is the first all-South Korean act to reign over Billboard’s US top singles chart, which they achieved with their 2020 track Dynamite, their first hit sung completely in English.