Grammy Responds After BTS Skips Awards Submissions Over New Asian Pop Category

Recording Academy Chief Executive Harvey Mason Jr. has responded after BTS announced they would not submit their music for Grammy Awards consideration this year, saying he respected the group's decision while defending the Academy's newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.

In a lengthy statement, Mason Jr. said he was "saddened" by BTS's decision but understood their position as a fellow music creator.

"I am saddened 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 said.

Academy Defends New Asian Pop Category

Addressing criticism surrounding the newly created category, Mason Jr. said it was introduced to celebrate the diversity and rapid growth of Asian pop music rather than to separate artists based on language or region.

"The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists," he said.

BTS had announced their decision on Tuesday through Instagram, saying they hoped "music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language."

The group's decision came just over a month after the Recording Academy introduced the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which recognises performances originating from or widely recognised in Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, featuring meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.

Also Read: BTS Say No To Grammy Entry This Year As New Asian Pop Category Sparks Fan Debate

General Categories Still Open to Asian Artists

Responding to concerns that the new award could limit Asian artists' chances of recognition in the Grammys' main categories, Mason Jr. said the two were not mutually exclusive.

"Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive. An artist can absolutely pursue both," he said.

He added that the Academy creates new categories "never to divide, but to expand who is recognised by our 15,000 Grammy voters."

"The Grammy organisation is here to serve music and all the people who make it. As we continue to expand the reach, our membership and our awards, regardless of geography or language, we will continue to listen to the global music community and work to honour and celebrate all the artists whose music moves the world," Mason Jr. said.

BTS Join Growing List of Grammy Holdouts

BTS is the latest high-profile act to opt out of the Grammy submission process. In recent years, artists including The Weeknd, Drake and Morgan Wallen have also chosen not to submit their music for Grammy consideration.