Despite criticism from BTS and other members of the Asian music community, the Grammys’ controversial new Asian Pop Music Performance category will debut at the 2027 ceremony. The Recording Academy’s CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., said the organisation was reevaluating the category after its announcement in June was met with mixed reactions. BTS had previously expressed concern that the creation of a separate regional category could limit, and not broaden, the recognition of Asian music, and the group confirmed it would not submit music for Grammy consideration in 2027. The Academy has said it will go ahead after consulting artists and music industry leaders.
Grammys to continue Asian pop category
According to Variety, Mason said in a statement that the Recording Academy had held listening sessions and talked with leaders across the Asian music community in recent weeks before making its decision. Mason shared that he had received a mixed response. Some people were against the continuation of the category, and some people had misconceptions about what the category was for. But he said the strongest reaction came from music creators who supported the new award and asked the Academy to keep it.
So the Academy has opted to award the Asian Pop Music Performance at the 2027 Grammys. “The Academy thinks this is the right conclusion for the larger music community,” Mason said, adding he knows it won’t make everyone happy. He also said talks with artists and industry professionals would continue.
Why did BTS oppose new Grammy category?
BTS was one of the most outspoken voices questioning the creation of the Asian Pop category. The K-pop group has previously received five Grammy nominations in various categories, but has yet to win a competitive Grammy award. After the new category was announced earlier this year, BTS said they would not submit their music for the 2027 ceremony. According to the K-pop power group, they were worried that music should be judged on its artistic merits and not separated by geography or language.
“We hope our music can be loved and enjoyed for what it is, without being divided by region or language,” BTS said in a joint statement issued by its seven members, RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook.
So for the group it’s more than just another chance to compete for a Grammy. Their position is reflective of a concern that a category designed solely for Asian music might unintentionally establish regional boundaries around artists whose music is already competing across global genres.
Recording Academy says submissions generated ‘strong interest’
Despite backlash, the Recording Academy said it has already received a “robust” number of submissions for the new category. One of the reasons why the Academy decided to go ahead with the award was the amount of participation. Mason said conversations with the Asian music community have helped the organisation understand different perspectives and clarify what the category is meant to recognise.
But the introduction of the category has, however, reopened a longstanding debate around genre-specific awards. Critics of such categories have said the division of music by language, region or cultural identity can sometimes confine artists to a particular space instead of helping them to compete in broader categories.
The Grammy chatter also comes in the wake of Golden from Netflix megahit KPop Demon Hunters featuring the fictional group HUNTR/X, which got attached to a major Grammy milestone earlier this year. The track won Best Song Written for Visual Media, but lost in the larger Song of the Year category.