Drake, BTS, and Stray Kids Willingly Skip 2027 Grammy Submissions

Five-time Grammy winner Drake has officially declined to submit any of his three 2026 album projects for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards, signaling a widening divide between streaming megastars and the Recording Academy.  

The decision to withhold his entire 2026 discography—including Iceman, Habibti, and Maid of Honour—comes alongside similar submission boycotts from K-pop juggernauts BTS and Stray Kids.  

The coordinated absence of top-tier streaming acts poses a systemic challenge to the cultural relevance and viewership of traditional music award telecasts.

Strategic Opt-Outs and Institutional Friction

Drake’s refusal to participate marks an extension of his long-standing institutional boycott, which began when he withdrew two nominations ahead of the 2022 ceremony.

According to reports confirmed by Billboard, the Recording Academy approached both Drake and his distributing partners at Universal Music Group to request submissions across rap and general field categories, but the artist declined to enter any work:  

• Direct DSP Dominance Over Industry Trophies: Drake’s choice underscores a broader strategy among elite catalog holders who prioritize direct fan monetization, stadium tours, and DSP volume over institutional validation.
• Rejection of Category Segregation: The move aligns with growing frustration among global powerhouses over how major genre categories are structured. Both BTS and Stray Kids opted out following the Academy's establishment of the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which critics and artists argue risks siloing international acts away from primary General Field awards like Record of the Year or Album of the Year.  
• Zero Campaign Spend: By bypassing the submission phase entirely, artists eliminate multi-million-dollar "For Your Consideration" campaign budgets, redirecting capital toward independent direct-to-consumer initiatives.

Industry Impact and the General Field Landscape

The combined withdrawal of Drake, BTS, and Stray Kids removes billions of lifetime streams and millions of global votes from the nomination pool ahead of the official ballot release.

For the Recording Academy, the boycott by primary commercial drivers threatens to impact broadcast ratings for the February 2027 ceremony, highlighting an escalating leverage shift toward independent and superstar-level artist ecosystems.

"As long as you have fans coming out to your shows, singing your songs word for word, I assure you, you don't need the award," Drake previously stated regarding his stance on traditional industry honors.