Grammys Say They May Revisit Asian Pop Category Following BTS Withdrawal

Tyler Jenke

Following word of BTS decided to not submit their latest album for consideration, the Grammys have admitted they're discussing the future of the nascent Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.

BTS(Credit: Courtesy of HYBE)

BTS

The Grammy Awards’ recent category addition may be reconsidered moving forward, with the Recording Academy CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., admitting the nascent Best Asian Pop Music Performance has been more divisive than planned.

News of the Grammys’ new categories were announced in June, with Best Asian Pop Music Performance being joined by Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, Best Traditional Folk Album, and Best Latin Song as new additions to the 2027 Awards.

Late last month, however, members of Korean boy band BTS issued respective statements in which they announced their decision not to submit their latest album for consideration at the Grammys this year, citing new rules they deem as divisive.

“We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year,” the message, originally posted in Korean, translated to. “I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.”

The addition of the category came following Golden from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack this year becoming the first K-Pop song to win a Grammy when it took out Best Song Written For Visual Media. It was also in contention for Song Of The Year, but lost to Billie Eilish’s Wildflower.

While the statement from BTS’ members seems to call out the category’s specific mention of featuring “meaningful use of one or more Asian languages”, general speculation has centred around fears that songs which are included in the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category would therefore be excluded from those in the General Field, including the likes of Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, and Song Of The Year.

However, as Billboard pointed out, tracks BTS’s March record Arirang – their first in six years – would not be excluded from the General Field if they were submitted for consideration in the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, but they would be excluded from other awards under the Pop & Dance/Electronic field, including the likes of Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Now, in the wake of the controversy, Harvey Mason Jr. has shared a statement explaining that the recent criticism surrounding the new category will be taken into deeper consideration ahead of next year’s Awards, with the Academy convening its full Board and Awards & Nominations Committee o work with members of the Asian music community in order honour the music “respectfully and accurately”.

“The Grammy organization exists to serve all music people, and part of that is working to ensure that no voice or community gets overlooked or misunderstood,” Mason wrote in a statement.

“It’s clear from our numerous conversations with many stakeholders over the past two weeks that, regardless of our intent and desire to be even more inclusive, there are some artists in this space who feel that this category isn’t representing the music they work so hard to create, in the way they wish. As a musician myself, I take that to heart.

“Over the past six years, the Academy has shown that it can act decisively and move swiftly to meet the needs of our music community,” he continued. “The management and Board are committed to working together to keep pace with that progress and ensure the musicians we intend to honor feel truly seen and heard by our actions.”

The 69th Annual Grammy Awards are scheduled to be handed out on February 7th, 2027, with nominations set to arrive around November. BTS will also return to Australia just days after the Grammys ceremony, with tickets on sale now.