[Dispatch=Reporter Jeong Tae-yoon] The Recording Academy has ultimately stepped back from BTS's Grammy Awards boycott. It has launched a review of the "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category.

Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, stated on the 14th (local time) that "the Grammys exist for all musicians. It is also our role to ensure that no voice or community is overlooked or misunderstood."

He continued, "Over the past two weeks, we learned that some artists in this field feel, regardless of our intentions, that this category does not properly represent the music they have created."

The Recording Academy announced that it has convened the full academy board and the entire awards nomination committee to review this category together with members of the relevant community.

Previously, the organizers announced the establishment of the "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category in June, citing the celebration of the diversity and growth of Asian pop.

Critics have raised suspicion that this provision is effectively a mechanism to exclude Asian artists from competing in major categories (record, album, song of the year, etc.).

On the 29th of last month, BTS stated on their respective social media accounts, "We decided not to submit to this year's Grammys," and added, "We hope music can be loved for what it is rather than being divided by region or language."

Afterward, Harvey Mason Jr. released an official statement saying, "I understand and respect BTS's decision," and explained that "the newly established category is intended to celebrate the diversity and remarkable growth of pop art emerging from Asia."

BTS's boycott dealt a blow to the Grammys. Some foreign media outlets, including Indian composer Ricky Kej and The Guardian, backed BTS by calling the newly established category "segregation rather than inclusion."

As the situation escalated, the Recording Academy stated, "We will convene the relevant parties and consult directly," and added, "We are also reviewing ways to operate the establishment process itself more openly to preemptively reduce such backlash."

Meanwhile, the online submission deadline for the "69th Grammy Awards" is the 21st.

<Photo source=Big Hit Music>