BTS leaves Grammys empty-handed for second year in a row

BTS performs ″Butter″ at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, April 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. [AP/YONHAP]

Despite breaking records last year, K-pop phenomenon BTS was unable to take home a Grammy on Sunday at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, which took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The boy band was nominated to Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the second year in a row for its English-lyric song "Butter" (2021), but Doja Cat and SZA's "Kiss Me More" (2021) took the award.

"Butter" was released in May 2021 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 10 weeks in total, becoming the longest-reigning No. 1 song on the chart in 2021. It also recorded the most No. 1s by an Asian artist in Billboard history.

Nonetheless, BTS holds the title as the first and only Asian artist to be nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, which was established in 2012.

BTS also performed “Butter” at the 2022 Grammys ceremony.

When the nominees were announced in November 2021, BTS fans, dubbed ARMY, expressed disappointment that BTS was nominated to only one category and none in the top four "general field" categories — referring to Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist — despite having released numerous hits in 2021.

BTS topped the Billboard Hot 100 with songs "Permission to Dance" (2021) and “My Universe” (2021) with British rock band Coldplay instantly upon release.

Some ARMY are accusing the Grammys of using BTS's name and live performance for publicity while only giving the band the "bare minimum" in terms of actual accolades.

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]