Grammys Rethink Asian Pop Category After BTS Pulls Out of 2027 Awards
The Recording Academy is reconsidering its newly announced Asian Pop Grammy category after BTS said they would not submit music for the 2027 Grammy Awards, citing the limitations of the award.
Billboard first reported the Academy's rethink. Variety confirmed that Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. and other executives have been in discussions with artists and representatives across K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and India's music scenes since the backlash began (Variety).
The category, listed on the Academy's Grammy Award Update Center as Best Asian Pop Music Performance, is designed for singles or tracks — vocal only — and would recognise artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances. It was announced roughly two months ago.
BTS announced on 29 July 2026 that they would not submit any music for consideration at the 69th Annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 2027 (Reuters). The Guardian, reporting the same day, described BTS as the biggest pop act in east Asia (The Guardian).
In their statement, BTS said: "We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language." Their objection centres on the idea that a region-specific category could sideline Asian artists from competing in the Grammys' general fields.
Mason Jr. issued a statement acknowledging the friction. "The Grammy organization exists to serve all music people," he said, adding that some artists in the Asian pop space feel the category is not representing the music they create in the way they wish (Variety).
The Academy is now convening its full Board and Awards & Nominations Committee to work with members and leaders of the Asian pop community. The goal is to seek further advice on the category itself and on the Academy's broader process for introducing new categories.
The fallout has also touched volunteers. A source told Variety that members of the Academy's Gold Music Alliance — a group that supports Asian and Pacific Islander music professionals — have been bullied and threatened online by social media users who believed they were involved in creating the category. In fact, the category was determined through the Academy's standard annual Awards & Nominations process, not by the alliance (Variety).
For fans of BTS and the wider Asian pop world, the stakes are straightforward. A category meant to celebrate Asian pop music on music's most prominent stage is now under review — and the biggest act in the region has made clear it will not participate until the question of how that music is recognised is resolved.
