Grammys CEO Responds as BTS Boycotts 2027 Awards Submission Over New Category
The Recording Academy’s CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., has broken his silence after global K-pop sensation BTS announced they would not submit their music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards.
While expressing disappointment over the group’s decision, Mason Jr. said he fully respects the members’ choice and insisted the newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category was never intended to separate artists.
Harvey Mason Jr. Says BTS’ Decision Is Respected
Speaking in a statement shared via Instagram on Wednesday, July 29, Mason Jr. described himself as “saddened” by BTS’ decision but emphasized that every artist has the right to determine how their music is represented.
His response came shortly after RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook released a joint statement across their individual Instagram accounts confirming they would not submit any music for the 2027 Grammy Awards.
The announcement immediately sparked widespread discussion among fans and music industry observers around the world.
Why BTS Refused to Submit Their Music
In their statement, BTS explained that they want their music to be judged based on its artistic value rather than being categorized according to language or geographic origin.
The group stated that they want their work to be “heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.”
Their decision is widely viewed as a direct response to the Recording Academy’s newly announced Best Asian Pop Music Performance award.
The move has reignited debate over whether creating region-specific categories promotes greater recognition or unintentionally separates international artists from mainstream competition.
Recording Academy Defends New Asian Pop Category
Responding to the criticism, Mason Jr. said the new award was created to recognize the rapid growth and global impact of Asian pop music, not to place artists in a separate lane.
According to him, expanding the number of Grammy categories allows more musicians to receive recognition from the Academy’s voting members.
“The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. More categories mean more artists’ work is recognized. It’s never to divide, but to expand who is recognized by our 15,000 Grammy voters.”
BTS Remains Eligible for Major Grammy Awards
Mason Jr. also addressed concerns that artists entering music under the Asian Pop category would lose the opportunity to compete for the Grammys’ biggest honors.
He clarified that submissions in genre-specific categories do not prevent artists from being considered in the prestigious General Field awards, including:
- Record of the Year
- Album of the Year
- Song of the Year
He stressed that artists remain eligible across multiple categories regardless of where their music is initially submitted.
“I want to be very clear. Submitting music in a genre category such as Asian Pop, or Jazz or Country, does not exclude an artist from also submitting and being considered in the General Field categories.”
Recording Academy Pledges to Listen to Global Artists
The Recording Academy CEO concluded by reaffirming the organization’s commitment to artists worldwide, saying it will continue expanding its membership while listening to feedback from the international music community.
His comments come as the Grammys face increasing scrutiny over how they recognize artists whose music achieves worldwide success outside the traditional English-language market.
BTS’ Stand Adds to Debate Over Global Music Recognition
BTS’ decision marks one of the biggest public challenges to the Recording Academy’s latest changes.
Throughout their career, the seven-member group has received five Grammy nominations, including nominations for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video, but they have yet to win a Grammy.
Since 2019, all seven members have also served as voting members of the Recording Academy, making their decision to boycott the submission process particularly significant.
With one of the world’s biggest music groups refusing to participate, the conversation surrounding how international artists are recognized at the Grammys is likely to continue well beyond the 2027 awards season.
