IVE and KiiiKiii are reportedly joining the race for the Recording Academy’s newly created Best Asian Pop Music Performance category at the 2027 Grammy Awards. IVE is campaigning with “BANG BANG” and KiiiKiii with “404 (New Era),” according to widely circulated submission lists.
The news first spread on r/kpop in a post citing music columnist Jeff Benjamin, and was corroborated by K-media outlet ZAPZEE and chart accounts About Music and Pop Crave, which listed both groups among the South Korean acts entering the category. Electric Bloom Webzine reports that The Orchard’s Grammy campaign includes IVE’s “BANG BANG” and KiiiKiii’s “404 (New Era)” for Best Asian Pop Music Performance.
The reported submissions put the two Starship Entertainment groups on a different path from several of their peers. BTS, Stray Kids, ATEEZ, LE SSERAFIM, aespa, CORTIS, ILLIT and Hearts2Hearts reportedly did not submit entries to the new category, according to About Music and Pop Crave.
The new category was created to recognize achievements in Asian popular music, but its introduction has sparked criticism over whether a separate award reinforces divisions based on region and language. BTS has publicly addressed the issue, though it remains unclear whether other groups’ decisions not to submit are connected to the debate.
Neither Starship Entertainment nor the groups have issued official statements on the reported submissions. No official statement was available.
First-round Grammy voting closes on October 22, with nominations set to be announced on November 16. The 69th Grammy Awards will take place on February 7, 2027, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
