First-round voting has begun for the Recording Academy’s new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. Entries cleared the nomination threshold, but the names of K-pop’s flagship groups are hard to find.
The Chosun Ilbo reported on the 20th that the new Asian pop category at the 69th Grammy Awards has drawn a wave of Japanese entries while K-pop’s leading groups have all but stayed away. The category bundles K-pop, J-pop and other Asian pop music under one award, and first-round voting to select nominees has been under way since the 12th.
광고 문의 · 300×250Sidae Ilbo, citing Billboard, reported that 116 submissions were received, above the 40-entry threshold for nominations. However, 11 of the 26 publicly confirmed entries are by Japanese artists such as Kenshi Yonezu and Yoasobi, the largest share.
Why the K-pop headliners are missing
BTS did not submit, and its members reportedly said they want their music loved for itself rather than divided by region or language. Stray Kids also did not enter before the August deadline. The exact list of the ‘big four’ cited by the Chosun Ilbo could not be pinned down from the material we checked, so this article names only the two acts confirmed absent.
Eligibility is another variable. A rule requiring meaningful use of at least one Asian language makes it hard for groups with many English-language songs to qualify. Meanwhile, a circulated entry list mentioning IVE, ATEEZ and CORTIS has split fans between those asking whether entering a separate category is right and those saying seizing a chance to win is a practical choice. That list is not an official final version.
The Academy’s position and what comes next
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said voices favoring keeping the category outnumbered others and that entries were sufficient. Overseas outlets warned it could repeat the practice of separating non-white artists from the main categories, and one noted that the traits the Grammys attribute to Asian pop overlap heavily with K-pop.
First-round judging closes on the 22nd, and final nominees will be announced on November 16. The ceremony takes place on February 7, 2027, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The debate over whether a separate award for Asian music is appropriate is expected to continue until the nominations are out.