Grammy’s Chief Responds After BTS Rejects 2027 Awards Consideration

The Recording Academy has responded to BTS’ decision to keep their comeback album ‘ARIRANG’ out of the 2027 Grammy Awards, with its chief executive expressing disappointment while defending the organization’s newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.

The response comes a day after all seven BTS members- RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook- simultaneously announced that they would not submit any music from ARIRANG for Grammy consideration, saying they hoped music would be judged “for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.”

The announcement sparked widespread debate across the music industry and among fans, many of whom viewed it as a protest against the Recording Academy’s decision to create a separate category for Asian pop artists. (Read our previous coverage: “BTS Rejects New Grammy Category, Says Music Should Not Be Divided by Language or Region.”)

In a statement released Wednesday, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said he respects the group’s decision despite disagreeing with it.

“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.”

Mason said he wanted to address what he believes has been misunderstood about the purpose of the new award category.

“I do want to clarify something that seems to be getting lost in the conversation.”

According to Mason, the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category was not created to separate Asian artists from the rest of the industry, but rather to recognize the rapid growth and influence of Asian pop music around the world.

“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. More categories mean more artists’ work is recognized.”

His comments highlight the Recording Academy’s position that expanding the number of Grammy categories allows more musicians to receive recognition, rather than limiting their chances in the major awards.

However, BTS’ stance has continued to resonate with many fans and artists who argue that music should compete on equal footing regardless of the artist’s nationality or language.

The seven-member group has long been regarded as one of the biggest global success stories in modern music, breaking records on the Billboard charts, selling out stadiums across multiple continents and becoming one of the few Korean acts to earn Grammy nominations in mainstream categories.

For many supporters, that history makes BTS’ decision particularly significant, as it raises broader questions about how international artists should be recognized at major Western award ceremonies.

The exchange has also opened a wider discussion about representation in the music industry.

Supporters of the new Grammy category believe it provides long-overdue recognition for the growing global influence of Asian pop music. Critics, meanwhile, argue that creating region-specific awards risks placing artists into separate categories based on geography rather than allowing them to compete equally in the ceremony’s main fields.

Despite their decision to skip Grammy consideration this year, BTS’ comeback album ARIRANG remains one of the most commercially anticipated releases of 2026, with fans around the world continuing to celebrate the group’s return as a full seven-member act after completing military service.

Whether the Recording Academy’s explanation changes BTS’ position remains unclear, but the conversation has already become one of the biggest debates surrounding the 2027 Grammy Awards, highlighting the growing influence of global music and the evolving discussion over how it should be recognised.