BTS Absent from the Grammy Awards, the Boss of the Recording Academy Speaks Out on the Asian Pop Music Category

JAKARTA - Recording Academy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Harvey Mason Jr., expressed his sadness and respect for BTS' decision not to participate in the upcoming Grammy Awards.

The surprising move by the South Korean phenomenon group sparked heated discussions among music lovers around the world, especially regarding the introduction of a new category, Best Asian Pop Music Performance.

Through an official statement, Harvey Mason Jr. responded to various speculations that have developed in the community. He emphasized that the organizers understand the point of view of music creators and still respect the choices made by BTS.

"I am sad to hear that BTS chose not to participate in this year's Grammy Awards process, but as fellow music makers, I understand and respect their decision," Harvey Mason Jr. said, quoting the Grammy's official Instagram account, Friday, July 31.

Furthermore, Mason Jr. clarified the public's prejudice against the presence of a category for Asian pop music. According to him, the formation of the category is purely intended to provide a wider appreciation space for Asian musicians, not to limit or separate them from the main event.

"I want to clarify something that seems to have been misunderstood in the discussion that has been circulating. The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity, and incredible growth of pop music talent coming from Asia," said Mason Jr.

"The spirit of this new category is to give special spotlight to these important artists. More categories mean more works of recognized artists. This was never intended to divide, but to expand who is recognized by our 15,000 Grammy voters," he added.

He also emphasized that the registration of songs in certain genre categories such as Asian Pop, Jazz, and Country does not close the opportunity for musicians to compete in the main categories such as Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.

"The submission of music in the genre category does not rule out an artist from also submitting and being considered in the General Field category. These categories remain open to any recording that meets the requirements, regardless of genre. Recognition in the genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive. An artist can pursue both," he said.

This open attitude confirms the Recording Academy's commitment to continue to embrace the global music ecosystem without limiting language or geographical boundaries.

"The Grammy organization exists to serve music and all the people who make it. As we continue to expand our reach, membership, and awards, regardless of geography or language, I want to emphasize that we will continue to listen to the global music community and work to honor and celebrate all artists whose music moves the world," the CEO concluded.