Grammy CEO Responds to BTS Withdrawal from 69th Grammy Awards

After BTS sent shockwaves through the music industry with their withdrawal from the 69th Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy’s CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., has responded to the K-pop group’s decision.

On Wednesday, shortly after the K-pop group removed themselves from consideration in apparent protest over the newly added Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, Mason said he was ‘saddened’ but ‘understood and respected’ the decision.

‘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,’ Mason said in a statement.

The Grammy CEO also clarified that 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,’ Mason explained.

He further clarified that submitting music to any genre category does not exclude an artist from submitting to general categories like 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,’ Mason stated.

The Grammy organization has been working to expand the reach of the awards, with the goal of recognizing and celebrating all the artists whose music moves the world, regardless of geography or language.

BTS members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook posted a joint statement earlier on Wednesday, saying they 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,’ the statement read.

The decision comes after the Recording Academy announced several new categories last month, including the Best Asian Pop Music Performance, which is designed to recognize artistic excellence in ‘performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including but not limited to K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, with meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.’

Earlier this year, BTS released their 10th studio album Arirang, the group’s first in six years, after pausing to complete their mandatory 18-month South Korea military service.

As the music industry continues to evolve, the Grammy Awards will continue to adapt and expand to recognize the diverse range of music being created around the world.

The Recording Academy’s commitment to celebrating all genres and languages of music has been a core part of its mission, and it will continue to work towards this goal in the years to come.

The decision by BTS to withdraw from the Grammy Awards process this year has sparked a conversation about the importance of recognizing and celebrating the diversity of music being created around the world.

The Recording Academy’s efforts to expand the reach of the awards and recognize all genres and languages of music are a positive step towards a more inclusive and diverse music industry.