Recording Academy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Harvey Mason Jr. defended the newly introduced Asian Pop category after South Korean supergroup BTS announced that it would not submit its music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards.
In a statement released on Thursday, July 30, 2026, Mason said: “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."
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Mason then clarified the purpose of the newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category amid discussions surrounding BTS’ decision.
According to him, the category was created to recognize the “depth, diversity and extraordinary growth” of pop music coming from Asia.
"The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists. More categories mean more artists' work is recognized."
He emphasized that adding more categories allows the Recording Academy’s approximately 15,000 Grammy voters to recognize more artists.
"It's never to divide, but to expand who is recognized by our 15,000 Grammy voters," Mason added.
Grammys CEO clarifies genre categories
Mason also addressed a possible misconception: That submitting music under a genre category like Asian Pop could disqualify an artist from major awards such as Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.
He stressed: "I also want to be very clear: submitting music in a genre category such as Asian Pop, or Jazz or Country does not exclude an artist from also submitting and being considered in the General Field categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year.
"Those categories remain open to any eligible recording, regardless of genre.
"Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive.
"An artist can absolutely pursue both."
He added that the Recording Academy’s goal is to serve music and the people behind it while continuing to expand its reach, membership, and awards.
"I want to emphasize that we will continue to listen to the global music community and work to honor and celebrate all the artists whose music moves the world," he stated.
BTS skips Grammy consideration
Mason’s statement followed BTS’ announcement that it would not submit music for Grammy consideration this year.
All seven BTS members—RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—shared the same statement on their respective Instagram accounts on July 30.
“We have decided not to submit for Grammy consideration this year.
“We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language,” the group said.
BTS also thanked its fans, known as ARMY, and everyone who has continued to support them.
BTS' GRAMMY NOMINATION
BTS previously made history as the first South Korean act to receive five Grammy nominations, but has yet to win one.
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The group received its first Grammy nomination in 2021 for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Dynamite.”
It earned the same nomination in 2022 for “Butter” and in 2023 for its collaboration with Coldplay, “My Universe.”
In 2023, BTS was also nominated for Album of the Year as a featured artist on Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres and for Best Music Video for “Yet to Come.”
The group was widely expected to receive Grammy nominations this year following the release of its comeback album, Arirang, in March.
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The album, which includes singles “Swim,” “Hooligan,” “2.0,” “Normal,” and “Body to Body,” among others, marks BTS’ first album since the members went on hiatus in 2022 to complete their mandatory military service.