[Dispatch=Reporter Park Hye-jin] Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. has spoken about BTS's decision to decline submission. He dismissed criticism that the establishment of an Asia category was a device to exclude the group from the general field awards.

The Grammys posted Mason's statement on their official SNS on the 30th. Mason said he was "disappointed to hear of BTS's decision not to participate in this year's Grammy Awards process," while adding that he "respects their decision."

BTS rejected submission to the U.S. Grammys on the 29th. All members voiced that "we hope music is heard and loved for the music itself, rather than being divided by region or language."

They opposed the Grammy's newly established "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category. This award targets K, J, and C-pop. Criticism followed that by creating Asian music as a separate category, the intent was to exclude it from the general field awards.

Mason said, "I want to clarify what is being missed," and stated, "The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth and diversity of pop artistry coming from Asia, as well as its extraordinary growth."

He emphasized it as expansion, not separation. "The purpose of this newly established category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on artists," and "it is not to divide, but rather to broaden those recognized by the Grammy voting body," he said.

He then stressed that submitting music to a genre category such as Asian Pop, jazz, or country does not exclude that artist from also being submitted to and judged in the general field category. "Music of all kinds is open to qualified recordings regardless of genre. Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the general field are not mutually exclusive. Artists can pursue both at the same time," Mason reiterated that submissions to both the Asia category and the general field are possible.

However, the point of criticism is not whether submission is possible, but the categorization itself. The concern is that at a time when BTS was being considered for general field nomination, a global star is being confined again to an Asia category. There was no answer to why an artist that has already been competing in the pop market should be categorized by region again.

The Grammys said, "We exist for music and all people who make music. We are broadening our scope regardless of geography or language," and added, "We will continue to listen to the voices of the global music community and strive to honor all artists whose music moves the world."

<Photo source=Grammy>