The CEO of the Grammys, Harvey Mason Jr., has responded to K-pop group BTS's decision to withdraw from the upcoming awards ceremony in protest of the newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music category.
BTS announced they would not submit their new album, 'Arirang', for consideration in the category, stating, "We hope music can be heard and loved for itself, beyond regions or languages."
Mason Jr. expressed his sadness at BTS's choice but added, "as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision." He clarified that the Asian Pop category was created "to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia," and to "shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists."
He also noted that artists submitting music in genre categories remain eligible for General Field Categories like Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year, stating, "An artist can absolutely pursue both."