Recording Academy genovervejer sin nye kategori Bedste asiatiske popmusik, efter at boybandet BTS trak sig fra Grammy-priserne i 2027 i protest mod prisen.
Harvey Mason Jr., administrerende direktør for organisationen bag Grammys, siger, at academien har brugt de seneste to uger på at føre drøftelser med kunstnere og andre inden for branchen, som mener, at kategorien ikke tilstrækkeligt afspejler deres arbejde.
Denne gennemgang markerer et skift i akademiens oprindelige svar på boykotten, da Mason forsvarede kategorien som et forsøg på at udvide anerkendelsen af asiatiske kunstnere.
“Grammy-organisationen eksisterer for at tjene alle musikfolk, og en del af det er at sikre, at ingen stemme eller fællesskab bliver overset eller misforstået,” fortalte Mason til Billboard.
“Det står klart, at uanset vores intention og ønske om at være endnu mere inkluderende, er der nogle kunstnere i dette felt, som føler, at denne kategori ikke repræsenterer den musik, de arbejder så hårdt for at skabe, på den måde, de ønsker.”
“Som musiker selv tager jeg det til hjertet.”
Kommentarerne følger BTS’ annoncering den 29. juli om, at de ikke vil indgive deres musik til overvejelse ved næste års Grammy Awards.
De syv medlemmer, RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V og Jungkook, postede identiske erklæringer, der kritiserer måden, hvorpå den nye kategori inddeler musikken efter geografi og sprog.
“Vi har besluttet ikke at deltage i Grammys i år,” sagde gruppen. “Vi håber, at musikken i sig selv kan høres og elskes i stedet for at blive skelnet efter region eller sprog.”
Recording Academy lancerede Bedste asiatiske popmusik som en af fem nye kategorier ved 2027-ceremonien. Hensigten var at anerkende nutidig popmusik, der stammer fra eller er bredt anerkendt på asiatiske markeder, mens berettigede indspilninger skal gøre brug af et eller flere asiatiske sprog på en meningsfuld måde.
That requirement became one of the central points of criticism after BTS’s withdrawal – the group’s latest album, Arirang, is predominantly in English. The wider debate has centred on whether creating an Asia-specific category expands recognition or risks separating artists who are already competing in a global pop market.
Mason previously said he respected BTS’s decision, but maintained that the category had been created to “celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia”.
He also stressed that artists entered in genre categories remain eligible for the Grammys’ major General Field awards, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year.
His latest comments suggest the academy is now prepared to revisit how the award is defined.
Mason said the organisation had demonstrated that it could “act decisively” when changes were needed, and that its priority was ensuring musicians “feel truly seen and heard” by its decisions.
BTS’s withdrawal was particularly significant given the group’s long history with the Grammys. They have received five nominations but have never won an award, despite becoming one of the world’s biggest pop acts. All seven members have also served as Recording Academy voting members since 2019.
The dispute has revived a broader debate around whether awards designed to improve representation can instead place artists into categories defined by ethnicity, geography or language.
That question has surfaced repeatedly at the Grammys, including criticism from Tyler, The Creator over black artists being pushed towards rap categories regardless of the music they make.
The academy has not yet announced whether the Best Asian Pop Music category will be changed before the 2027 ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on February 7. Nominations are due to be announced on November 16.
