Grammy may review Asian Pop Award category

The organisers of the Grammy Awards may review plans for a new Asian Pop Award category after popular K-pop group BTS announced they would not register their work for the 2027 awards ceremony.

As quoted in a Variety report on Friday (14/8), Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said the Grammy organisation exists to serve all music creators and to ensure no voice or community is overlooked or misunderstood.

“From our discussions with many stakeholders over the past two weeks, it has become clear that despite our intentions and desire to be more inclusive, there are a number of artists in this music space who feel the category does not represent the music they have worked hard to create, as they had hoped,” he explained.

“As a musician, I take that very seriously,” he added.

He said that over the past six years the Recording Academy has demonstrated its ability to act decisively and quickly in meeting the needs of music communities.

“Management and the board are committed to working together to keep pace with that progress and to ensure that the musicians we wish to honour truly feel seen and heard through the steps we take,” he said.

The Recording Academy is convening its board of directors and the Awards and Nominations Committee to work with members and leaders from those music communities to seek further input on the Asian pop music award category and the procedures for establishing new categories and awards.

The BTS members previously stated via Instagram Story that they would not participate in the nomination registration for the 2027 Grammy Awards.

They stated, among other things, “We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being separated by region or language.”