Harvey Mason Jr., Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Recording Academy, has addressed BTS’s decision to boycott the 2027 Grammy Awards.
On Thursday, Mason shared his thoughts via the official Grammy account, stating that he was disheartened to learn that BTS has chosen not to participate in this year’s Grammy Awards process. However, as fellow music creators, he understands and respect their decision.
Mason explained that it established the Asian Pop category to celebrate the depth, diversity, and remarkable growth of pop artistry emerging from Asia. This new category aims to spotlight significant artists, and expanding the categories means more artists’ work will be recognized. He emphasized that its intention is not to create divisions, but to broaden the scope of what the 15,000 Grammy voters acknowledge.
He clarified that submitting music in genre categories like Asian Pop, Jazz, or Country doesn’t disqualify artists from consideration in the General Field categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. These prestigious awards are open to all qualified recordings, regardless of genre. Winning in a genre category doesn’t preclude winning in the General Field.
Mason added that recognition in genre categories and the General Field is not mutually exclusive; artists can absolutely pursue both. The Recording Academy is committed to amplifying voices from the global music community as it expands the influence, membership, and awards. It aims to honor and celebrate all artists creating impactful music, regardless of geographic location or language.
Last month, the Recording Academy announced the creation of a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. This category will encompass Asian pop genres, including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, with entries required to feature at least one Asian language.
BTS’s fifth studio album, ARIRANG, released in March, could potentially be eligible for the 69th Grammy Awards in February 2027, which considers works released between August 31, 2025, and August 28, 2026. However, BTS has declared they won’t submit this album for Grammy consideration.
On Wednesday, BTS members RM, Jin, Jimin, Suga, V, Jungkook, and J-Hope announced via Instagram that they’ve decided not to submit the work to the Grammys this year. They expressed their hope that music can be appreciated and loved for what it is, rather than being categorized by region or language.
Some speculate that BTS’s decision stems from concerns that the Grammys’ new Asian music category might exclude Asian artists from major awards like Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Record of the Year.
The Grammy Awards are widely regarded as the most prestigious music accolades in the U.S., the world’s largest music market. BTS has previously received Grammy nominations in categories such as Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video, though they have yet to secure a win.