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Grammys CEO says he’s ‘saddened’ by BTS decision to skip the 2027 awards – and defends new Asian pop category
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said he was saddened but respectful of BTS’s decision not to submit music for the 2027 Grammy Awards. The move removes the group’s comeback album, ARIRANG, from consideration and has heightened debate over the Grammys’ new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which BTS appeared to criticise indirectly by arguing that music should not be divided by region or language.
Mason said the category, one of five introduced for the 69th Grammys, is intended to recognise the growth and diversity of Asian pop rather than separate artists; entries may still compete in major general categories. All seven BTS members announced the decision on 29 July, while HYBE said it was the group’s own choice rather than a company boycott; BTS have received five nominations across three ceremonies but have never won.
In short
- BTS will not submit ARIRANG for the 2027 Grammys.
- Mason defended the new Asian pop category as broader recognition.
- HYBE said BTS made the decision independently.
Steelman: 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 a fast-growing and diverse field greater visibility, recognise achievements that may be overlooked in broad genre categories, and still leave artists eligible for the major awards. From this view, recognising a distinct musical scene need not confine its artists; it can broaden the range of work the Grammys acknowledge.
The case against
A regional category may unintentionally suggest that Asian artists belong in a separate lane, even if they remain eligible for general awards. BTS’s position reflects a concern that music should be judged without regional or language-based divisions, and that a new category could reinforce boundaries rather than address unequal recognition in the main categories.
Explained simply
BTS is a South Korean pop group that has become one of the world's biggest musical acts, with a devoted global fanbase and multiple Grammy nominations over recent years. The group announced in July that it would not submit music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards, removing their comeback album from the running.
The decision appears linked to a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category introduced at the 2027 Grammy Awards. BTS suggested indirectly that they oppose music being divided along regional or language lines, which critics argue the new category does. Grammy organisers defend the category as a way to celebrate the growing influence and diversity of Asian popular music rather than to marginalise it.
The dispute highlights an ongoing tension in the music industry about how to recognise global artists and genres. Some argue dedicated categories help underrepresented music gain visibility and prestige, whilst others worry they risk segregating non-Western music from mainstream recognition.
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