BTS Prompts Recording Academy to Reconsider Asian Pop Category

On the 29th of last month, all 7 members of BTS announced they would not submit their music, including the album Arirang, to the 69th Grammy Awards. Sharing statements across their individual social media accounts, the band wrote, “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 group has received six Grammy nominations to date — three in the best pop duo/group performance category and one each in album of the year, best music video, and best recording package — and lost all of them.

The decision followed mixed reactions to the best asian pop music performance category since its June announcement, amid concerns over language rules and fears it would exclude Asian acts from general categories. The category covers various genres of Asian music including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. confirmed active discussions over the past two weeks regarding revamping the new category. Mason noted he was “saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision,” adding that “recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive.”

Billboard reported that Academy leaders have met with executives and community members across K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and Indian music markets, including HYBE. In a statement on Friday, Mason said, “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. 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.”

The move comes as the Grammy submission deadline is one week away, with first round voting slated to start on Oct. 12. Variety added that the Academy plans to convene its full Board and Awards and Nominations Committee to review both the specific award and wider protocols. Mason emphasized, “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. 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.”

Meanwhile, Variety reported that volunteers from the Academy's Gold Music Alliance faced online harassment from users who mistakenly believed they created the category. This policy re-examination marks a significant shift in how major award bodies approach international acts, and the outcome will likely reshape future submission processes across the global recording industry.