Grammy CEO Breaks Silence on BTS, Says Asian Pop Category Broadens Recognition
washington: The Recording Academy responded to BTS’ decision to sit out of this year’s Grammy Awards process, with CEO Harvey Mason Jr. issuing an official statement defending the Academy’s newly introduced Asian Pop category and confirming that artists remain eligible for top Grammy awards regardless of genre. The statement comes after BTS announced on Wednesday that the group would not submit its music to the Grammys this year. The seven-member group: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook said, “We have decided not to apply for the Grammys this year. We hope that our music will be heard and loved rather than divided by region or language. We thank Army and everyone who has always been by our side,” said Deadline. Responding to the announcement, Mason said he respected the group’s decision but was disappointed that they did not participate in the awards process.
“I am sorry 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,” he wrote in an official social media post. Addressing online discussions about the Recording Academy’s newly introduced Asian Pop category, Mason said the award was created to recognize the growing influence and diversity of pop music in Asia, rather than segregating artists by geography or language. “I want to clarify something that got lost in the conversation. The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity, and extraordinary evolution of pop art from Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a special light on these important artists. More categories means more artists’ work is recognized. The point is never to divide, but to expand who is recognized by our 15,000 Grammy voters,” he wrote.
Mason also clarified that artists who fall into genre-specific categories are still fully eligible for the Grammy Awards’ General Field categories. “I also want to be very clear: submitting music in a genre category like Asian Pop or Jazz or Country does not preclude an artist from also submitting to and being considered in General Field categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year,” he wrote. He added: “These categories are open to all eligible entries, regardless of genre. Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Domain are not mutually exclusive. An artist can certainly pursue both.” Reiterating the Recording Academy’s broader vision, Mason wrote that the organization will continue to expand its reach while listening to the global music community.
“The Grammy organization is here to serve music and all the people who make it. I want to emphasize that as we continue to expand our reach, membership, and awards, regardless of geography or language, we will seek to listen to the global music community and honor and celebrate all artists whose music moves the world,” he wrote.
The Recording Academy announced several new Grammy categories last month, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The category aims to recognize artistic excellence in “performances originating from or widely recognized in Asian markets, including but not limited to K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, with expressive use of one or more Asian languages.” BTS recently returned with their 10th studio album, Arirang, which they released in March. The album was the group’s first full-length album in six years, following a hiatus during which the members completed South Korea’s mandatory 18-month military service.
