Photo Credit: Harvey Mason Jr. on the Broken Record podcast (YouTube)
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. issues a statement implying the Grammys may reconsider its new Asian Pop Music category after BTS withdrew from consideration.
After BTS announced they would not submit music for consideration for the Grammy Awards in February, the Recording Academy appears to be reconsidering its move to add an Asian Pop Music Performance category.
Only two months after the Grammy Awards announced a new category for Asian pop music, and weeks after K-pop kings BTS announced their withdrawal from consideration, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. released a statement that signals the institution might be changing its tune.
“The Grammy organization exists to serve all music people, and part of that is working to ensure that no voice for the community gets overlooked or misunderstood. 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,” said Mason.
“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. 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.”
According to sources close to the matter, Mason and other Grammy executives have been in talks with artists and executives in K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, Indian pop, and more. The Academy’s full board and Awards & Nominations Committee are reportedly working with members of and leaders from these communities for further advice on the category and its process for introducing new categories and awards moving forward.
Unfortunately, sources also said that volunteers from the Academy’s Gold Music Alliance have faced bullying and threats from users on social media who falsely believe they were involved in the category’s creation. The category was created and determined through the annual Awards & Nominations process.
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