Grammys reconsider Asian Pop category after BTS opts out of 2027 awards

The Recording Academy is considering changes to its newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category after BTS announced that the group would not submit its music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr said on Friday that discussions with artists and other stakeholders had made it clear that some musicians felt the new category did not adequately represent their work.

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“The Grammy organisation exists to serve all music people, and part of that is working to ensure that no voice or community gets overlooked or misunderstood,” Mason Jr said 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 artistes 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.”

According to Billboard, Mason Jr and other Grammy officials have spent the past two weeks speaking with members of different Asian music communities, including K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and Indian music, as the organisation considers ways to improve the category.

The discussions come shortly before the Grammy submission deadline, with first-round voting scheduled to begin on October 12.

Mason Jr said the Academy remained willing to respond quickly to concerns from the music community.

“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 said. “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.”

BTS announced last month that it would sit out this year's Grammy process, with the members sharing a statement across their individual social media accounts.

“I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. Thank you to ARMY and everyone who is always with us,” the statement read.

The group's decision followed mixed reactions to the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category when it was announced in June. Critics questioned the category's language-related eligibility rules and raised concerns that placing Asian acts within a separate category could reduce their chances of being recognised in the Grammys' general categories.

Following BTS's announcement, Mason Jr said he was “saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year”, while adding that he understood and respected the group's decision.

He also maintained that “recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive.”