Grammys to Maintain Asian Pop Category

The Recording Academy has decided to keep the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category at the 2027 Grammys ceremony. This decision follows significant controversy among K-pop fans even after the category was announced in June 2026.

The category is intended to cover various Asian music genres such as K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop. However, shortly after its creation, criticism arose from K-pop fan communities claiming it forced artists into a fixed classification rather than showing genuine respect for them. As a result, BTS was identified as the first nominee for the category but decided to boycott in agreement with fan opinions.

Stray Kids also joined the boycott by announcing their refusal to participate. Nevertheless, after preliminary discussions in August, The Recording Academy officially decided to retain the category on October 1. Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of The Recording Academy, stated, “Through ongoing dialogue and communication with leadership, we determined that this decision is the most appropriate choice for the entire music community.”

Songs eligible for this category are selected from works submitted by August 21, 2026. BLACKPINK is ineligible because all of its recent EPs were produced in English, while TWICE did not release any new songs in this cycle. In contrast, KPop Demon Hunters is qualified, including with its “How It's Done,” the second U.S. radio single since “Golden.”

aespa has been pursuing the U.S. market since its global partnership with Warner Records in 2022 and has released its first English single, “Life,” which could be considered for nomination in this category.

Background of Category Creation In June 2026, The Recording Academy introduced the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, stating its intention to boost international recognition for K-pop and Asian music. Yet it faced criticism for widening the gap between such genres and mainstream music by categorizing them separately.

Criteria for Selecting Nominees Nominees are chosen from works submitted by August 21, 2026. Eligible music includes genres like K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, as well as songs produced in English. However, BLACKPINK’s recent EPs are ineligible due to being entirely in English, and TWICE did not release any new tracks in this cycle.

Key Nominee Artists aespa continues its efforts to enter the U.S. market by releasing English singles including “Life.” KPop Demon Hunters’ “How It's Done” is also considered a strong candidate for the category. These artists performed at the Lolla Palooza festival in July 2026.