The Recording Academy is considering changes to its newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category after BTS announced that the group would not submit its music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr said on Friday that the organisation had spent the past two weeks speaking with artists and other stakeholders about concerns surrounding the new category.
He acknowledged that some musicians felt the category did not adequately represent the music they create.
“The Grammy organisation exists to serve all music people, and part of that is working to ensure that no voice or community gets overlooked or misunderstood,” Mason Jr said in a statement.
“It’s clear from our numerous conversations with many stakeholders over the past two weeks that, regardless of our intent and desire to be even more inclusive, there are some artistes in this space who feel that this category isn’t representing the music they work so hard to create, in the way they wish. As a musician myself, I take that to heart.”
According to Billboard, Mason Jr and other Grammy officials have held discussions with representatives from various Asian music communities, including K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and Indian music.
The discussions come ahead of the Grammy submission deadline, with first-round voting scheduled to begin on 12 October.
Mason Jr said the Academy was prepared to respond quickly to concerns raised by the music community.
“Over the past six years, the Academy has shown that it can act decisively and move swiftly to meet the needs of our music community,” he said.
“The management and Board are committed to working together to keep pace with that progress and ensure the musicians we intend to honour feel truly seen and heard by our actions.”
BTS announced last month that it would not participate in this year’s Grammy process. The members shared a joint statement across their individual social media accounts.
“I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. Thank you to ARMY and everyone who is always with us,” the group said.
The decision came after mixed reactions to the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which was announced in June.
Critics questioned its language-based eligibility rules and raised concerns that placing Asian artists in a separate category could limit their opportunities for recognition in the Grammys’ general categories.
Following BTS’ announcement, Mason Jr said he was “saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year”, while adding that he understood and respected the group’s decision.
He also maintained that recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field “are not mutually exclusive”.
The Academy’s latest discussions suggest that the new category could undergo changes before the 2027 Grammy Awards process moves forward.
