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Recording Academy reviews Asian Pop Grammy category after BTS boycott
The Recording Academy is reconsidering its newly introduced ‘Best Asian Pop Music Performance’ category following significant controversy and a decision by the K-pop group BTS to boycott the 2027 Grammy Awards.
BTS announced on July 29, 2026, that they would not submit their music for consideration, expressing a desire for music to be “heard and loved by itself rather than being divided by region or language.” Critics have argued that the new category, which requires the significant use of an Asian language, effectively segregates Asian artists and prevents them from competing in general or genre-specific fields, particularly for English-language tracks.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. stated that the organization has spent two weeks consulting with stakeholders across the K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and Indian music communities. Mason acknowledged that some artists feel the category does not represent their work in the way they wish. While the Academy has not yet withdrawn the category or announced specific changes to the criteria, it has signaled a commitment to ensuring no musical community is “overlooked or misunderstood.”
Industry observers note that with the submission deadline approaching, a major overhaul of the category or a reversal of the BTS boycott may be difficult to achieve before the 2027 awards cycle.
Entities
BTS · Big Hit Music · HYBE · Harvey Mason Jr. · Recording Academy
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Academy has consulted with stakeholders from K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and Indian music communities over the past two weeks. www.sentinelassam.com · www.koreaherald.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Recording Academy is taking criticism regarding the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category into consideration. rollingstoneindia.com · www.sentinelassam.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A reversal of the BTS boycott is unlikely due to the upcoming Grammy submission deadline. www.koreaherald.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] BTS decided not to submit their latest album, ARIRANG, for consideration for the 2027 Grammy Awards. rollingstoneindia.com · www.koreaherald.com