The CEO of the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr., addressed the recent decision by K-pop sensation BTS to forgo submitting their music for the 2027 Grammy Awards. In a statement on the Grammys’ official Instagram page, Mason expressed disappointment but acknowledged and respected BTS’s choice as fellow music creators.
Last Wednesday, the seven members of BTS — RM, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, Jung Kook, and Jin — simultaneously posted on Instagram about their choice. They announced they would not submit their comeback album, ‘ARIRANG,’ or its tracks for Grammy consideration. The group emphasized their desire for their music to be appreciated for its own merit without being divided by regional or linguistic lines.
This decision came shortly after the Recording Academy introduced five new Grammy categories, including one for best Asian pop music performance. According to the rulebook, this category recognizes music across K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and more. However, some fans see it as a discriminatory barrier against Asian artists.
In his response, Mason Jr. clarified the purpose of the new category. He explained that it aims to celebrate the diversity and growth of pop music from Asia, not to segregate these artists. He stated, “The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity, and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. More categories mean more artists’ work is recognized.”
Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive. An artist can absolutely pursue both.
Mason reminded everyone that entering a genre-specific category does not prevent artists from submitting to broader categories like Album, Song, and Record of the Year.
Despite their global popularity, BTS has yet to win a Grammy, although they have been nominated five times. Their nominations include Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Album of the Year for their collaboration with Coldplay on “Music of the Spheres,” as well as Best Music Video for “Yet to Come.” This year marked a milestone for K-pop at the Grammys. “Golden,” from the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” won Best Song for Visual Media — an achievement for a genre that has historically been underrepresented at the awards.