‘BTS Boycott’ Finally Moves the Recording Academy···“Reconsidering the Asian Pop Category” - 경향신문
This article was translated by an AI tool. Feedback Here.
At the 63rd Grammy Awards held in 2021, BTS present the ‘Dynamite’ performance. Yonhap News
With BTS (BTS) announcing they will not submit works to the 69th Grammy Awards, the U.S. Recording Academy, which organizes the Grammy Awards, has begun reconsidering the planned new ‘Best Asian Pop Music Performance’ category. The move is intended to reflect artists’ views after concerns were raised that classifying Asian music such as K-pop as a separate genre could instead limit entry into the main categories.
Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, issued a statement on the 14th (local time) saying, “The Grammys as an organization exist for all music makers, and within that purpose is ensuring that no voice or community is overlooked or misunderstood.”
He continued, “After many conversations with a wide range of stakeholders over the past two weeks, one thing has become clear,” and added, “Although our intention and hope were to create a more inclusive awards show, some artists feel this category does not properly represent, in the way they wish, the music they have worked so hard to create.” He added, “As a music maker myself, I take those voices seriously.”
Mason Jr. said, “Over the past six years, the Recording Academy has shown it can act decisively and move quickly to meet the needs of the music community,” adding, “The leadership and the Board will keep pace with change and work together so that the music makers we seek to honor can feel, through our actions, that they are truly respected and that their voices are being properly heard.”
Previously, in June, the Recording Academy announced it would introduce a ‘Best Asian Pop Music Performance’ category starting with the 69th Grammy Awards. It targets Asian popular music such as K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, and allows music produced in one or more Asian languages to be eligible.
BTS’ fifth studio album ‘Arirang’ (ARIRANG), released in March, can be eligible for judging at the 69th Grammy Awards to be held next February (covering works released between August 31, 2025 and August 28, 2026). However, BTS declared they would not submit the fifth studio album to the 69th Grammy Awards.
Regarding BTS’ boycott, the music industry interpreted the Recording Academy’s establishment of a separate Asian pop category as potentially putting K-pop artists such as BTS at a relative disadvantage in the Grammys’ main General Field categories‘Album of the Year,’ ‘Record of the Year,’ and ‘Song of the Year.’ Some also suggested the boycott was a protest against the creation of the Asian pop category.
In response, on the 30th of last month, Mason Jr. said of BTS’ decision, “As a music creator, I understand and respect their decision,” while also explaining that the creation of the Asian pop category was not intended to exclude Asian music.
He said, “Submitting music in a genre category such as Asian Pop, Jazz, or Country does not disqualify it from being submitted to and considered in the General Field categories that include ‘Record of the Year,’ ‘Album of the Year,’ and ‘Song of the Year,’” adding, “Those categories are open to any eligible recordings regardless of genre.” He emphasized, “Winning in a genre category and winning in the General Field are not mutually exclusive.”
Nevertheless, as controversy persisted after BTS’ boycott, the Recording Academy has been re-gathering opinions from the music community regarding the establishment of the Asian pop category.
According to the U.S. entertainment outlet Variety, after BTS’ boycott, Recording Academy officials have been holding discussions with artists and industry representatives representing K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and Indian music. It is also reported that the full Board and the Awards & Nominations Committee have been convened to hear views on the process of creating new categories and fields, and are preparing discussions with stakeholders from those music communities.
