For Asian musicians, the Grammy Awards represent the ultimate dream and recognition of success in the global music industry long dominated by their Western counterparts.
When BTS, widely regarded as the world’s most famous Asian pop act, decided not to submit their music for consideration at next year’s Grammys in an apparent protest against the creation of a new best Asian pop music performance category, it created a dilemma for their K-pop and regional peers.
Should K-pop and Asian pop artists embrace the category or should they follow BTS’ lead, thus giving up a chance to win the world’s biggest music award?
In a social media message announcing their decision last month, the seven-member supergroup wrote: “We hope music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.”
BTS have received six Grammy nominations to date – thrice in the best pop duo/group performance category and one each in the album of the year, best music video and best recording package categories – and lost all of them.
The best Asian pop music performance category covers various genres of Asian music including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop.