BTS Opts Out of Grammy Consideration: Recording Academy Responds
BTS's Decision Not to Submit for Grammy Consideration
The Recording Academy has addressed BTS's choice to refrain from participating in this year's Grammy Awards. CEO Harvey Mason Jr. released a statement defending the newly established Asian Pop category and emphasized that artists can still qualify for the prestigious Grammy awards, irrespective of their musical genre.
This response follows BTS's announcement on Wednesday, where the globally renowned group declared they would not be submitting their music for Grammy evaluation this year.
The seven-member ensemble, comprising RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, expressed, “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,” as reported by a Media House.
In reaction to their announcement, Mason conveyed his respect for the group's decision, albeit with disappointment regarding their absence from the awards.
“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,” he stated in an official social media update.
Addressing the discussions surrounding the new Asian Pop category, Mason clarified that it was established to acknowledge the increasing influence and diversity of pop music from Asia, rather than to segregate artists based on their geographical or linguistic backgrounds.
“I want to clarify something that seems to be getting lost in the conversation. The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity, and extraordinary growth of pop artistry emerging from Asia. The intent of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these significant artists. More categories mean more artists' work is recognized. It’s never to divide, but to expand who is acknowledged by our 15,000 Grammy voters,” he explained.
Mason also reassured that artists entering genre-specific categories remain eligible for the Grammy Awards' General Field categories.
“I want to be very clear: submitting music in a genre category such as Asian Pop, Jazz, or Country does not exclude an artist from also submitting and being considered in the General Field categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year,” he noted.
He further emphasized, “Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive. An artist can absolutely pursue both.” Reinforcing the Recording Academy's broader vision, Mason stated that the organization would continue to expand its reach while listening to the global music community.
“The Grammy organization is here to serve music and all the people who create it. As we continue to broaden our reach, our membership, and our 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 the artists whose music resonates worldwide,” he concluded.
The Asian Pop category aims to recognize artistic excellence in performances originating from or widely acknowledged within Asian markets, including but not limited to K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, with meaningful use of one or more Asian languages. BTS recently made a comeback with their 10th studio album, Arirang, released in March. This album marked the group's first full-length release in six years, following a hiatus during which the members completed South Korea's mandatory 18-month military service.