Grammys To Keep Best Asian Pop Music Performance Category for 2027 Despite BTS’ Withdrawal

The Recording Academy will move ahead with the newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category at the 2027 Grammy Awards, following weeks of discussions with artists, executives and music industry leaders across Asia.

The decision comes after BTS announced in July that the group would not submit music for consideration at the upcoming ceremony, citing concerns about dividing music according to region or language.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. confirmed the category will remain part of the 69th Grammy Awards after the organization consulted with representatives from K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and the Indian music industry. The Academy also said it received a “robust” number of submissions for the new award, indicating continued interest in the category during its inaugural year.

The 69th Grammy Awards are scheduled to take place on February 7, 2027, in Los Angeles.

Academy Heard Both Support And Opposition

The decision follows a period of uncertainty surrounding the category. After BTS announced its withdrawal from the 2027 Grammys in July, the Recording Academy said it would listen to members of the Asian music community before determining how to proceed.

Mason has now said that the Academy heard differing views during those conversations. According to reports, the strongest feedback came from creators who supported keeping the category, although there were also people who opposed it or had concerns about how it would function.

“We understand this conclusion will not satisfy everyone,” Mason said, while explaining that the Academy believes moving forward is the appropriate decision for the music industry as a whole.

The Recording Academy had initially introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance on June 16, 2026, as one of five new categories for the upcoming Grammy ceremony. The category covers contemporary Asian pop music, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, among other forms of pop music associated with Asian markets.

Here’s What the New Grammy Category Covers

According to the Recording Academy’s official rules, eligible recordings must originate from or be widely recognized within Asian markets and make meaningful use of at least one Asian language. The Academy has also emphasized that eligibility is determined by the music and its characteristics rather than simply the nationality or ethnicity of the performer.

That language requirement became one of the central points of discussion after the category was announced. Recordings performed entirely in English do not qualify for the Asian Pop category under the current rules.

At the same time, the Academy has clarified that having a regional category does not prevent Asian artists from competing in the Grammys’ General Field. Eligible artists can still be considered for categories such as Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year when their work meets the relevant requirements.

BTS’ Decision Put Category Under Spotlight

BTS became the most prominent artist to publicly challenge the timing and structure of the new award. On July 29, all seven members announced that they would not submit music for consideration at the 2027 Grammys.

In their statement, the group said, “We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.”

The announcement followed the Recording Academy’s introduction of the Asian Pop category by several weeks. BTS’ decision also meant that the group’s comeback album ARIRANG would not enter the Grammy submission process.

The album’s largely English-language material would not meet the Asian Pop category’s language requirement in any case, adding another layer to the discussion surrounding the new award. However, BTS chose not to submit its music to the Grammys at all rather than pursue consideration in other categories.

Larger Debate Over Recognition And Classification

The controversy has highlighted a broader discussion within the global music industry about how regional and language-based categories should function at major international awards.

Supporters of the category have viewed it as a way to recognize the expanding range of Asian pop music and give artists from different markets a dedicated space at the Grammys. Critics, including BTS in its statement about regional and language divisions, have raised concerns that separate categories could potentially limit how Asian artists are perceived within the wider awards structure.

The debate has also drawn comparisons with other regional or genre-specific Grammy categories, including those connected to Latin music. The Recording Academy, however, maintains that the new category is intended to add recognition rather than prevent Asian artists from competing for major General Field honors.

For the 2027 ceremony, the Academy has now settled the immediate question that Best Asian Pop Music Performance will proceed. With submissions already received and the category set to be presented for the first time, attention will now shift toward the nominees and how the new award fits into the broader Grammy landscape.

The decision marks a significant new chapter for Asian pop at the Grammys, even as the discussion over regional categories, language requirements and broader recognition continues.