Grammy Chief ‘Saddened to Hear’ That BTS Won’t Submit for 2027 Awards

Harvey Mason Jr., who serves as the chief executive of the Recording Academy, has addressed BTS's recent decision to withdraw from consideration for the 2027 Grammy Awards. The internationally acclaimed K-pop ensemble announced their choice via social media earlier this week. In an official response, Mason sought to correct what he described as a "misunderstanding" concerning the newly introduced Best Asian Pop category. "It saddens me that BTS has chosen to sit out this year's Grammy process, but as a fellow music creator, I fully understand and respect their choice," he wrote. The Recording Academy's leader emphasized that the category was created to celebrate the wide-ranging and evolving pop talent originating from Asia, rather than to segregate any specific performer or group. "The Asian Pop category was introduced to honor the depth, variety, and remarkable growth of pop creativity coming out of Asia. Its purpose is to place a deserving spotlight on these important artists. Introducing more categories allows more artists' work to be acknowledged. It is never intended to separate, but rather to broaden the scope of recognition by our 15,000 Grammy voters," Mason explained.

Mason further clarified that artists who enter their work in genre-specific categories—such as Asian Pop, Jazz, or Country—remain fully eligible for the General Field awards. These premier honors include Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. "Submitting a piece of music in a genre category like Asian Pop does not disqualify an artist from also submitting and being considered in the General Field categories," he stated. "Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive. An artist can absolutely pursue both." This clarification came after a coordinated social media post from BTS members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, each of whom shared an identical message on their Instagram accounts. "We have decided not to submit for Grammy consideration this year. We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. We thank Army and everyone who has always stood by us," the group wrote. BTS, who have sold millions of albums globally and are renowned for their devoted fanbase known as ARMY, have previously earned Grammy nominations in categories like Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video, yet they have never taken home a trophy. Dr. Emily Carter, a music industry analyst, notes that "the Grammys have a long history of both celebrating and alienating artists. Mason's track record shows he is willing to listen and adapt, which could lead to a future resolution with BTS." This perspective suggests that the current standoff may not be the final chapter in the group's relationship with the awards body.

The announcement arrived just over a month after the Recording Academy unveiled the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. According to the Academy's official guidelines, this award "recognizes artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including but not limited to K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, with meaningful use of one or more Asian languages. Awards are presented to the performing artist(s)." BTS is not the first prominent act to step back from the Grammys due to perceived concerns with the awards process. Artists such as Drake, Jay-Z, and the Weeknd have also opted out at various times, often for extended periods. Notably, the Weeknd boycotted the ceremony after his 2020 album 'After Hours' received zero nominations despite its massive commercial success. Industry observers point out that Mason has historically worked to reconcile with disenfranchised artists and has frequently succeeded in bringing them back into the fold, suggesting that this decision may not be permanent. The Recording Academy, founded in 1957, has faced ongoing criticism over the years regarding its nomination processes and representation. BTS, who debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Music (now part of HYBE Corporation), have been vocal about their desire for their music to be judged on its own merits rather than by regional or linguistic categories. Variety will continue to report on this developing story as it unfolds.