Recording Academy reviews Asian pop Grammy award after BTS withdrawal
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The Recording Academy is reconsidering its newly announced Asian pop Grammy category after BTS said it would not submit music for the 2027 awards, arguing that music should not be divided by region or language. The decision matters because it has renewed debate over whether specialist awards improve recognition or marginalise artists from the main Grammy categories.
Chief executive Harvey Mason Jr said discussions with artists and industry representatives showed some felt the category did not represent their work appropriately. The Academy will consult its Board, Awards & Nominations Committee and representatives of K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and Indian music; sources also said Gold Music Alliance volunteers faced online abuse despite not creating the category.
- BTS’s withdrawal prompted a review of the Asian pop Grammy category.
- Artists question whether region-based awards genuinely recognise their music.
- The Academy will consult industry representatives before deciding next steps.
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The Grammy Awards are annual prizes run by the Recording Academy, a US-based organisation that recognises recorded music across many genres. They include broad awards such as Album of the Year as well as categories for particular styles of music.
Asian pop is a wide label often used for commercially popular music from Asian countries and communities, including Korean pop, Japanese pop, Chinese pop and Indian music. BTS is a South Korean group whose global success has made it one of the best-known acts associated with K-pop.
Award categories can affect which artists and recordings are considered alongside one another, and which audiences see them recognised. Supporters of specialist categories may see them as a way to increase visibility, while critics can worry they separate artists from the main awards.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that an Asian pop category could correct a long-standing gap in Grammy recognition by ensuring major, innovative music from K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and Indian scenes is evaluated by voters with relevant knowledge. They may see a dedicated award as a practical way to broaden representation, build industry visibility and acknowledge audiences whose musical traditions have often been overlooked by mainstream institutions.
The case against
Critics argue that grouping artists by region or language risks treating highly varied music as a separate lane rather than judging it alongside all other pop releases. They may contend that meaningful inclusion means Asian artists can compete fairly in the principal categories, and that a specialist award could unintentionally reinforce the marginalisation it is intended to address.
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Originally published by Variety as “Grammys May Reconsider New Asian Pop Award After BTS Withdrawal: ‘Some Artists Feel This Category Isn’t Representing the Music They Create’”.