Seoul: Fans of K-pop supergroup BTS and several celebrities have voiced support after the band said it would skip the upcoming Grammy Awards apparently in protest over the U.S. Recording Academy's creation of a new Asian pop category that critics say risks segregating non-Western artists. The group announced the decision on social media Wednesday, voicing hope that music could be "heard and loved for what it is, rather than categorized by region or language."

According to Yonhap News Agency, the boycott was followed by a surge in streaming activity from the group's fanbase, known as ARMY. "Aliens," a track from BTS' fifth studio album "Arirang," reached No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart in 78 countries and regions Thursday, according to music industry sources. The song, which uses the metaphor of outsiders to describe the group's experience as Koreans on the global stage, includes lyrics about creating its own standards and embracing difference. Industry observers said the chart performance reflected resonance between the song's message and the band's stance on the Grammys.

Support also came from public figures. Epik High's frontman Tablo backed the decision Wednesday, followed by Maggie Kang, the Korean Canadian director of the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," who shared news of the boycott on social media with a clapping emoji. American producer Mike Will Made It, who worked on "Aliens" and another album track, also posted "BTS Aliens" in support.

The U.S. Recording Academy has defended the new Asian pop category after BTS' announcement. In a statement released on Wednesday (U.S. time), Chief Executive Harvey Mason Jr. said the category was intended to increase recognition for artists from the region, not to marginalize them.