Opinion | In tokenising BTS, the Grammys were not only crude but cruel – it needs the K-pop kings more than they need awards

BTS performed towards the end of the night, even though they weren’t nominated for a main award and their category, which they didn’t win, wasn’t even televised

In an era where no award is as powerful as the love and dedication of fans, the Grammys reaffirmed its lack of self-awareness regarding its importance

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K-pop boy band BTS were nominated for best pop group/duo performance at the 2021 Grammys but lost out to Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande. Photo: Big Hit Entertainment

Published: 10:15pm, 18 Mar 2021Updated: 10:15pm, 18 Mar 2021

There’s a popular phrase among fans of K-pop group BTS: “What Yoongi wants, Yoongi gets.”

The key word here is that it’s what Min Yoongi – aka BTS rapper-songwriter Suga – wants, not what he needs. He sets goals that are dreams, not necessities. Which is one reason why BTS being denied an award at the 63rd Grammy Awards earlier this week was such a disappointment. It was something they desired and deserved, but it wasn’t something they needed. The band responded with disappointed acceptance, while looking towards the future.

In 2021, the Grammys need BTS far more than the band need accolades or proof of their talent and popularity. The outrage that erupted online after BTS’ Dynamite failed to win the award for best pop group/duo performance at the Grammys on Sunday was ultimately not about whether the song was better than others in the category, including the winning Rain On Me from Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, but rather disappointment at the way the Grammys handled things.

With the Grammys itself only drawing in 8.8 million viewers on terrestrial television while a live stream hosted by BTS after the show attracted more than 7 million, one thing became clear: they were the star attraction, giving the Grammys a sure-fire way to boost viewership.

BTS have appeared at the Grammys for the last three years. In 2019 they presented H. E. R with the award for best R&B album, and their Love Yourself: Tear album was nominated in the category for best recording packaging, but lost to St. Vincent’s Masseduction. Last year they performed alongside Lil Nas X. This year, the South Korean septet performed on their own for the first time at the Grammys, with a thrilling rendition of their hit Dynamite that began with them performing on a duplicate of the set of the American awards show but ultimately ended with them showing off Seoul from a rooftop.