After it emerged that Stray Kids did not submit any work for the 69th Grammy Awards in 2027, overseas fans have been calling the move a “smart choice.” JYP Entertainment confirmed the non-submission on Oct. 2 following reports by Billboard and the BBC, but did not explain the reason or whether it related to the Grammys’ new Asian pop category. The submission deadline was Aug. 21, and works not formally submitted are excluded from nomination review and voting. What overseas fans noted is that Stray Kids were well placed to compete. The group topped the Billboard 200 with the album they released in August, were tipped as a strong contender in the new Asian pop category, and this year all eight members were invited to become voting members of the Recording Academy. On communities such as Reddit, fans pointed out that the group had made the same choice as BTS and said they “respect” what they called a “wise choice.” Given the controversy around the newly created Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, fans argued that even if nominated the group faced a no-win situation: losing could spark claims that the Grammys fail to recognize K-pop, while winning could reignite the original debate over placing a globally mainstream genre in a separate “Asian pop” box. Not every fan welcomed the decision. Some said they had wanted to see Stray Kids compete at the Grammys given a real chance of winning, and others argued that since the new category aims to cover music from across Asia, it would be worth participating and watching how it evolves. JYP has never officially stated a reason or used the word boycott, but major Korean and international outlets have described the decision as a “Grammy boycott” following BTS. The BBC reported that the absence could be a significant blow to the Grammys, noting the group was a leading contender in the category and that all members hold voting rights, and also flagged the possibility that other K-pop acts might follow. Meanwhile, the Recording Academy decided to proceed with the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category as planned despite the absence of BTS and Stray Kids. CEO Harvey Mason Jr. held sessions to hear from Asian music industry figures and artists and, on Oct. 1, acknowledged that not all stakeholders would be satisfied but said creating the category is the right direction for now. The Academy said submissions for the category, which closed Aug. 21, reached a sufficient level, and the first winner will be announced at the Grammy Awards in January 2027.