The Recording Academy may revamp its brand new best asian pop music performance category after the award’s presumptive front-runners BTS announced last month that they wouldn’t submit for the Grammys this year.
“The Grammy organization exists to serve all music people, and part of that is working to ensure that no voice or community gets overlooked or misunderstood,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a statement Friday. “It’s clear from our numerous conversations with many stakeholders over the past two weeks that, regardless of our intent and desire to be even more inclusive, there are some artists in this space who feel that this category isn’t representing the music they work so hard to create, in the way they wish. As a musician myself, I take that to heart.”
Billboard first reported Friday that Mason Jr. and other Grammy leaders had been meeting with community members from across various Asian music genres including K-Pop, J-Pop, C-Pop and India over the past two weeks, seeking insight on how to improve the new category. It’s a notable move given that the deadline for Grammy submissions is just a week away, and first round voting is slated to start on Oct. 12.
“Over the past six years, the Academy has shown that it can act decisively and move swiftly to meet the needs of our music community,” Mason Jr. said. “The management and Board are committed to working together to keep pace with that progress and ensure the musicians we intend to honor feel truly seen and heard by our actions.”
