▲ BTS
About two weeks after the group BTS declared a boycott, the Grammy Awards hinted that it could revise the controversial Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
In a statement yesterday (the 14th) local time, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said, "It has become clear that, regardless of our intentions, some artists feel the [Asian Pop] category does not represent the music they work so hard to create," adding, "As a musician myself, I take this to heart."
He continued, "Over the past six years, the Recording Academy [which hosts the Grammy Awards] has shown that it can move decisively and quickly to meet the needs of the music community," emphasizing, "We will strive to keep pace with this progress and ensure that musicians feel truly respected."
He also stated that the academy would review overhauling the process for developing new award categories.
Mason added, "Now that the Grammy Awards categories have exceeded 100, it is time to think about how we can evolve our efforts."
Based on these remarks, Billboard projected that the Recording Academy could unusually reorganize the Asian Pop category starting from next year's ceremony.
The Recording Academy is currently in contact and discussions with music industry figures in the Asian region.
The academy stated that leaders of the organization, including CEO Mason, have met with musicians, labels, and managers representing K-pop, J-pop (Japanese popular music), C-pop (Chinese popular music), and India, including those from HYBE.
In addition, the full board of trustees and screening committees have been convened, and separate advisory work on the Asian Pop category is underway.
The academy is known to have set a goal to respect and accurately honor such music from the very first time the award is presented.
Previously in June, the Grammy Awards announced the creation of the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, separating music from Asian regions such as South Korea, China, and Japan.
In response, criticisms emerged that despite K-pop's global popularity, the academy was merely trying to check a box by relegating it to an Asian pop award instead of a general category. BTS declared a boycott on the 29th of last month, taking issue with the establishment of the Asian Pop category.
The group stated, "We have decided not to submit our music to the Grammys this year," adding, "We hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language."
(Photo courtesy of BigHit Music, Yonhap News)
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