Grammy boss defends new Asian Pop category after BTS refuse to participate

Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr has taken to social media to defend the Awards' new 2027 Asian Pop category.

On Wednesday, BTS announced that they would not be submitting their hit comeback album, Arirang, for the 2027 Grammy Awards after the introduction of the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category sent shockwaves across the music industry.

The announcement drew a mixed response from music fans, with some claiming that the category pigeonholes Asian artists.

Hoping to mitigate the situation, Mason Jr attempted to clarify that the new category was not intended to single out K-pop artists.

"I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision," Mason wrote.

"I do want to clarify something that seems to be getting lost in the conversation. The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists.

"More categories mean more artists' work is recognised. It's never to divide, but to expand."

BTS were widely expected to be major contenders in the top Grammys categories, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year, following the success of their latest album and its lead single, Swim. However, they would have been excluded from the newly announced category, Best Asian Pop Music Performance, over their use of English lyrics.

BTS have been nominated for five Grammys during their career but have yet to take home a trophy.