Grammys May Reconsider New Asian Pop Award After BTS Withdrawal: ‘Some Artists Feel This Category Isn’t Representing the Music They Create’

By Jem Aswad

Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

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Just two months after the Grammy Awards announced a new category for Asian pop — and just weeks after BTS announced they would not submit their music for the 2027 awards, in part because of what they feel are the limitations of this awards — the Recording Academy has signaled that it is at least rethinking the new award.

“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,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey 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 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.

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