Grammys Break Silence As BTS Opt Out Of The Awards

Becca MonaghanFri, July 31, 2026 at 9:30 AM UTC

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Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty ImagesBTS fans wasted no time showing their support after the group revealed they would not be submitting music for the 2027 Grammy Awards, with ARMY flooding social media to praise the decision.Now, Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. has responded...

Mason Jr. told BuzzFeed he is “saddened” by the group’s choice but respects it.

He also addressed the conversation around the new Asian Pop category, explaining that it was created to recognise and celebrate artists from across Asia, rather than divide them by region or language.

Mason Jr. also clarified that artists submitted in genre categories can still be considered for the Grammys’ major General Field awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.

Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for The Recording AcademyRead the statement in full:

"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.

"I do want to clarify something that seems to be getting lost in the conversation. 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.

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"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."

"The Grammy organization is here to serve music and all the people who make it. As we continue to expand the reach, our membership, and our awards, regardless of geography or language, I want to emphasize that we will continue to listen to the global music community and work to honor and celebrate all the artists whose music moves the world."

Additional photo credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”