BTS Missed Out On A Grammy Nomination And Fans Are Rightly Losing Their Shit
The K-pop act have had a massive 2019. But the Grammys don't seem to care.
The Grammys getting it wrong is hardly a new thing — over the years the awards have deservingly earned the reputation of being wildly out of touch with both critics and fans alike. But still, of many glaring omissions made, none feel quite as bizarre as BTS getting locked out of the 2020 ceremony.
Earlier this year, the seven-piece band released Map of the Soul: Persona. The group’s sixth extended play, it was one of the highlights of their already glittering career; it’s sensitive, intelligent and emotive K-pop.
But that doesn’t seem to have mattered at all to the Grammys voting body. Nor, apparently, does the record’s considerable commercial heft — as Rolling Stone notes, Persona outsold Beyonce’s Homecoming by a significant margin.
On at least two fronts, critically and commercially, BTS proved that they deserved a spot in the ceremony. That they didn’t get one has fans, understandably, feeling a little let down.
I’m gonna say it now: with all the sales, streams and top ratings for Map of the Soul: PERSONA, @BTS_twt at least deserved a nomination for Album of the Year.
I said what I said.#GRAMMYs
— Luke Waltham (@lukewaltham) November 20, 2019
lmao if a white artist did 1/10 of what bts achieved this year they’d get 5 grammys nominations but ANYWAY !!!’
— zei (@glowjh) November 20, 2019
na not only did they string armys along but they strung bts along too. inviting them personally to the grammys, having them photographed by exclusive winner photographer, their suits placed in the grammy museum and allowed to become part of the recording academy.
— cat (@cultkoo) November 20, 2019
Everybody say, “Taylor, BTS, and Lady Gaga deserved better” #GRAMMYs
— Taylor Crave (@mainpopgirI) November 20, 2019
BTS having the best selling album in the world and having ppl tell them to "work harder" or "do better next time" is just another example of POC having to work triple as hard as anyone else and still seeing not even half of the rewards or recognition.
— matthew 🧷 (@ntropersona) November 20, 2019
dont wanna hear shit ab bts needing to do better or armys needing to work harder. this is not on us or them. this is on the recording academy and their refusal of acknowledging bts outside being of a social phenomenon . they look at them and they see clout, not their worth
— ☆jay (@hoyavmin) November 20, 2019
i’m not mad but i wanna say this: with all the sales, streams and top ratings for Map of the Soul: PERSONA @BTS_twt deserved a nomination for album of the year, having songs on number one charts but not even a nomination. well #GRAMMYs
— fer ✰ (@jminiesoft) November 20, 2019
Seriously all the noms are copy paste in most categories where is the "unexpected" noms they claimed!! sucker gets nominated for group of the year and not bts? What does bts need to do more to get a nom? have a super power? Tbh I give up on grannies they're beyond help. #GRAMMYs
— ⱼᵤₖₒₒᵣᵢₐ 💛 with ١٥٧٤ (@jukooria) November 20, 2019
Someone tell me how bts, didnt get any Grammy nominations…like map of the soul persona sold over 4 million copies, A MINI album , had the most views for their music video, hard more impact that a majority of artists this year.. #GRAMMYs
— Precious 🥰🥰🥰 (@smoljungkookbun) November 20, 2019
Hell, even some of the artists who were nominated for a Grammy themselves strode into the debate to support BTS.
Wow, woke up to 3 Grammy nominations!! Though it’s a travesty @BTS_twt didn’t get one. That was more deserved than ever this year!
— DJ Swivel (@djswivel) November 20, 2019
And even Halsey, well-known for collaborating with BTS, showed her support.
deleting and ignoring all negativity. BTS deserved many nominations. I am however, unsurprised that they weren’t acknowledged. the US is so far behind on the whole movement. the time will come.
— h (@halsey) November 20, 2019
Will the Grammys ever change their ways? Seems unlikely — at least, not until the older, predominantly white and rich voting body, uh moves on.
Grammy Nominations 2020
Record of the Year
“Hey, Ma,” Bon Iver
“Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish
“7 Rings,” Ariana Grande
“Hard Place,” H.E.R.
“Talk,” Khalid
“Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
“Truth Hurts,” Lizzo
“Sunflower,” Post Malone & Swae Lee
Album of the Year
I,I, Bon Iver
Norman F—ing Rockwell!, Lana Del Rey
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Billie Eilish
Thank U, Next, Ariana Grande
I Used to Know Her, H.E.R.
7, Lil Nas X
Cuz I Love You (Deluxe), Lizzo
Father of the Bride, Vampire Weekend
Song of The Year
‘Always Remember Us This Way,’ Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey & Lori McKenna, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
‘Bad Guy,’ Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
‘Bring My Flowers Now,’ Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker, songwriters (Tanya Tucker)
‘Hard Place,’ Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, D. Arcelious Harris, H.E.R. & Rodney Jerkins, songwriters (H.E.R.)
‘Lover,’ Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
‘Norman F—ing Rockwell,’ Jack Antonoff & Lana Del Rey, songwriters (Lana Del Rey)
‘Someone You Loved,’ Tom Barnes, Lewis Capaldi, Pete Kelleher, Benjamin Kohn & Sam Roman, songwriters (Lewis Capaldi)
‘Truth Hurts,’ Steven Cheung, Eric Frederic, Melissa Jefferson & Jesse Saint John, songwriters (Lizzo)
Best New Artist
Black Pumas
Billie Eilish
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Maggie Rogers
Rosalia
Tank and the Bangas
Yola
Best Pop Solo Performance
‘Spirit,’ Beyoncé
‘Bad Guy,’ Billie Eilish
‘7 Rings,’ Ariana Grande
‘Truth Hurts,’ Lizzo
‘You Need to Calm Down,’ Taylor Swift
Best Dance Recording
‘Linked,’ Bonobo
‘Got to Keep On,’ The Chemical Brothers
‘Piece of Your Heart,’ Meduza Featuring Goodboys
‘Underwater,’ Rufus Du Sol
‘Midnight, Hour,’ Skrillex & Boys Noize Featuring Ty Dolla $ign Boys Noize & Skrillex
Best Dance/Electronic Album
LP5, Apparat
No Geography, The Chemical Brothers
Hi This Is Flume, Flume
Solace, Rufus Du Sol
Weather, Tycho
Best Rock Performance
‘Pretty Waste,’ Bones UK
‘This Land,’ Gary Clark Jr.
‘History Repeats,’ Brittany Howard
‘Woman,’ Karen O & Danger Mouse
‘Too Bad,’ Rival Sons
Best Rock Album
Amo, Bring Me The Horizon
Social Cues, Cage The Elephant
In the End, The Cranberries
Trauma, I Prevail
Feral Roots, Rival Sons
Best Alternative Music Album
U.F.O.F., Big Thief
Assume Form, James Blake
I,I, Bon Iver
Father of the Bride, Vampire Weekend
Anima, Thom Yorke
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Apollo XXI, Steve Lacy
Cuz I Love You, Lizzo
Overload, Georgia Anne Muldrow
Saturn, Nao
Being Human in Public, Jessie Reyez
Best Rap Album
Revenge of the Dreamers III, Dreamville
Championships, Meek Mill
I Am > I Was, 21 Savage
Igor, Tyler, The Creator
The Lost Boy, YBN Cordae