BTS’ decision to forgo Grammy consideration for 2027 continued to spark debate after Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. publicly addressed the group’s announcement. It prompted another wave of reactions from fans who said his explanation failed to address their concerns.
On July 30, 2026, the Recording Academy CEO took Instagram to say he was “saddened” by BTS’ decision but respected the group’s choice, saying,
“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 also emphasized that the newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category was designed to celebrate the growth and diversity of Asian pop music.
“The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists. More categories mean more artists’ work is recognized. It’s never to divide, but to expand who is recognized by our 15,000 Grammy voters,” wrote the CEO.
Mason further explained that artists entering genre-specific categories, including the new Asian Pop category, would still be eligible to compete in the General Field categories. He added,
“I also want to be very clear: submitting music in a genre category such as Asian Pop, or 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. Those categories remain open to any eligible recording, regardless of genre. Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive. An artist can absolutely pursue both.”
Closing his statement, Mason said the Recording Academy would continue expanding its global reach. He said the organization would continue listening to the international music community and honoring artists whose music resonated across borders, regardless of geography or language.
His statement came a day after all seven BTS members including RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook shared an identical message on their individual Instagram accounts announcing that they would not submit their music for Grammy consideration this year. The group said they wanted their music to be appreciated “for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language,” while thanking ARMY for its continued support.
The decision followed the Recording Academy’s introduction of the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. The category recognised Asian pop music performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop.
However, Mason’s clarification did little to change the conversation online. Fans continued to express disappointment across social media. Many BTS fans argued that his statement missed the central issue raised by the group. One fan wrote,
“Misses the point entirely but that’s to be expected. The advertisers must’ve called now that they lost their biggest audience.”
Fans compared the situation to being told everyone was welcome at a club but being assigned the least desirable seat from the start, arguing that Mason’s response showed no real willingness to engage with the concerns being raised.
Some fans called Mason’s response “predictable.” Others argued that true inclusivity would mean removing the new category altogether rather than creating a separate one, while some claimed the Academy was disappointed to lose one of its biggest audience draws.
Other fans argued that grouping the entire Asian continent under a single “Asian Pop” category ignored its vast cultural and musical diversity. Several also said the Academy should have listened to the criticism instead of defending the category.
BTS’ Grammy performances disappear from Recording Academy website after 2027 awards boycott
The controversy surrounding BTS’ decision continued to grow as fans pointed out that the Recording Academy had seemingly removed the group’s Butter and Dynamite Grammy performances from its website shortly after the announcement. The performances were among the Academy’s most-viewed content, leading many fans to question the removal.
The Recording Academy however has not publicly addressed the matter. BTS has previously received multiple Grammy nominations over the years, including in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video categories, but the group has yet to secure a Grammy win.
Amid the ongoing discourse, BTS continues with its ARIRANG World Tour. The septet is scheduled to begin the U.S. leg of the tour with two sold-out concerts at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on August 1 and 2, before continuing the global trek with performances across several other countries.
Edited by Adrija Chakraborty