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.