Why Filipino Pop Powerhouses SB19 & BINI Are Embracing the Grammys’ Asian Pop Category: ‘We See It as a Door Opening, Not a Box Closing’
SB19 and BINI have entered the Grammys’ inaugural best Asian pop music performance category, describing it as a chance to bring Filipino music to a wider audience. Their support comes amid concerns from some artists that a regional category could limit recognition across the Grammys’ broader fields.
The Recording Academy announced the category on 16 June for the 69th Grammy Awards, requiring meaningful use of at least one Asian language; it received 116 submissions. SB19 also entered best pop duo/group performance, while BINI is in the running for best new artist. Both groups have reached major international stages: SB19 performed at Lollapalooza, and BINI became the first act formed in the Philippines to play Coachella.
- SB19 and BINI back the Grammys’ new Asian pop category.
- The category received 116 submissions.
- Both groups are building international profiles.
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The Grammys are annual music awards run by the US Recording Academy. Their new Asian pop performance category is for recordings that make meaningful use of at least one Asian language, recognising music from a region with many languages and styles.
SB19 and BINI are Filipino pop groups whose music has reached audiences beyond the Philippines. Filipino artists have debated whether a regional category can help introduce their work to more listeners while also raising questions about how it fits alongside the Grammys’ wider awards.
The category matters because award recognition can bring artists greater visibility, while the Grammys’ categories shape how music is presented to voters and the public. Both groups have also entered wider Grammy fields, showing how regional and general categories can sit alongside each other.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A dedicated Asian pop category could give artists working in Asian languages a clearer route to Grammy recognition, bringing Filipino music to listeners and industry figures who might otherwise overlook it. SB19 and BINI see the category as an opening that can build visibility while leaving artists free to compete in broader fields as well.
The case against
A regional category could unintentionally confine Asian artists to a separate lane, making it easier for the wider industry to treat their work as niche rather than assess it alongside pop from elsewhere. If recognition and opportunities remain concentrated in that category, artists may gain visibility without equal consideration across the Grammys’ broader fields.