Get unlimited access to everything VICE has to offer.

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

4 Magazines Delivered to Your Door

Recording Academy CEO Responds to BTS Abstaining From 2027 Grammys, but K-Pop Fans Aren’t Buying It

K-pop fans didn’t buy the explanation from Harvey Mason Jr. concerning the divisive Asian Pop Grammy Awards category.

Share on X (Opens in new window)X

Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook

Share using Native toolsShareCopied to clipboard

On July 28, 2026, K-pop stars BTS announced that they would not submit their latest album for 2027 Grammy Awards consideration. The seven-member group posted the message on their individual Instagram stories, and fans were disheartened but ultimately supportive.

The message subtly called out a new award category as the catalyst for the decision. “We have decided not to submit for Grammy consideration this year,” the statement said. “We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.”

Back in June, the Recording Academy announced five new Grammy Awards categories and several qualification changes. But the category for Best Asian Pop Music Performance seemed to create unnecessary division within the pop categories. For BTS, this may have felt like a snub by Western mainstream music.

Now, the Recording Academy CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., has responded to the message from BTS. Late on July 29, Mason released a statement regarding........

© Vice