More than a decade in the spotlight has taken BTS far beyond the boundaries of K-pop, cementing their status as a global phenomenon with an impressive collection of international accolades, including honors from three of the four major music awards in the United States: the Billboard Music Awards, the αмєяι¢αn Music Awards, and the MTV Europe Music Awards. However, for BTS, the concept of a "limit" seems not to exist in their vocabulary. The group continues to push toward new heights—including the Grammy Awards!

This March, BTS released their fifth studio album, ARIRANG, which set a series of unprecedented records and was named the Best Album of 2026 by Rolling Stone, NME, and Complex. Industry experts believe that this comeback, combined with the momentum generated by the group's global tour, will further strengthen BTS's connection with international au∂ιєnces, making it a major opportunity for the group to secure their first Grammy Award.

Notably, the Recording Academy recently introduced several new categories, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance. Gold Derby commented, "The Grammys are getting bigger—and that's great news for BTS and Ella Langley." However, some industry experts and a large portion of fans have reacted quite differently!

Forbes noted that a win in the new Asian Pop category would mean little if BTS continue to be overlooked in major fields like Record of the Year or Album of the Year. BTS fans have been even more outspoken, openly condemning what they view as a long-standing pattern of racial bias within the Grammy system. The new move is seen as an attempt to prevent K-pop superstars from competing on equal footing with white artists. Recording Academy capitalizes on the popularity and engagement generated by BTS while preserving the dominance of wнιтe αмєяι¢αn artists in its "Big Four" awards.

As debates spread across social media platforms, comments RM made about the Grammys in a February interview with GQ suddenly began attracting renewed attention, offering a revealing glimpse into BTS's own perspective on the award!

Specifically, the journalist asked the leader whether "Grammys still represents a pinnacle to them, if winning a trophy is still a goal" as they prepared ARIRANG. In response, RM said candidly: "I don't know". He continued: "Because time has pαѕѕed. There are a lot of K-pop-related nominees you see in the general field and, really, I want to send big applause for them".

"I mean, we’ll try," he adds later. "Maybe we’ll submit our album to the Grammys again. But I don’t know, we don’t want to be desperately eager for it…. We don’t want to say anymore like, “Ah, man, we want the Grammys.” I mean, it doesn’t mean that we really don’t want it—but we’ll try. But if not, then okay."

For the band, at least, the goal was always less about the actual trophy and more about having a North Star for the group to work toward. "Typically, a band is four, right? We’re seven. For a team like this, sometimes we need such a goal to just go on," RM continues. "The Grammys was one of the goals that we haven’t really gotten in the past, but I think now, the most important thing is just that we are here back together again, we’re going to see the fans all over the world".

RM’s approach to the Grammy question no longer reflects the fiery ambition of youth, but the thoughtful perspective of a seasoned leader. He did not deny the significance of the award, but he sкιℓℓfully placed it in its proper context: a milestone to strive for, not an obsession with achievements. Meanwhile, RM’s willingness to “give a big round of applause” to other K-pop nominees also highlights another dimension of BTS—they are no longer merely competing for themselves, but standing as pioneers who take pride in seeing the ripple effect of the wave they helped create.

What is most touching is the philosophy of a “shared goal.” For RM, the Grammy is sometimes just a pretext within the broader core values the group pursues. Being together as seven and meeting fans is the irreplaceable pinnacle. The “boldness” in this statement lies not in arrogance, but in freedom. BTS has grown strong enough to say, “If we don’t get it, that’s okay.” When an artist is no longer bound by external validation, that is when they begin to create the purest and most authentic musical values.

As Forbes aptly summarized RM's sentiment: "BTS will continue to tour and release music, and fans will continue to support them unabated, regardless of Grammy recognition... But as BTS continue smashing records and the Grammys continue to lose relevance, who really needs who?" RM's remarks from earlier this year now feel like a remarkably sharp response to the Grammys' recent changes. Unsurprisingly, fans have been quick to shout out:

- They def know the shady business that award show is. This is how you approach the topic btw as growing artists. And I'm so glad that both btw and armys know this very wellBTS merchandise

- BTS doesn't need any grammys. The grammys need BTS.

- I've always thought it's still soмєтнing they want to achieve bc at the end i know it's really meaningful to them considering they're big in the industry but now im glad their mindset about it it's like if it happens it will when it's meant to

- Notice how he openly acknowledges and appreciates other artists, while some people still try to downgrade his group’s legacy for paving the way. This is the major difference between a real self made artists and the rest

- This is the difference between BTS and their fellow artists. BTS always acknowledges their fellow artists while their fellow artists always tries to erase their impact.

- Look how humble they are they paved the way for it but still not talking about it but congrats the other noms while other people act like they did smtng

- my bts, you are bigger than the grammys and the award gonna come to you because of you are not chasing it and nobody before you deserving this award

- Olivia, Billie, Sabrina, BTS y'all will always be bigger than scammys. And it’s impossible not to praise our leader’s response for being so thoughtful, accurate, and refined.

- My babies are so humble, and that only makes me love them more and more.

- The shift from “we need it” to “we’ll try, if not it’s fine” says everything. Power speaks softer.