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BTS fans ARMY have put Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. in the spotlight due to his his previous professional ties to SM Entertainment and its artists.
The decision quickly put Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. in the spotlight. While he said he was “saddened” by BTS’ choice, his response only fuelled more discussion among ARMY — particularly after fans began digging into his previous professional ties to SM Entertainment and its artists.
Now, a new question is dominating the conversation: was the Asian Pop category really created simply to recognise Asian music, or could artists from companies such as SM Entertainment stand to benefit from it?
Why is BTS skipping the 2027 Grammys?
The controversy began when BTS announced that they would not submit ARIRANG for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. For ARMY, the timing was impossible to ignore.
The decision came after the Recording Academy introduced the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which divides eligible music according to its Asian regional and linguistic identity.
Fans interpreted BTS’ decision as a statement against being placed into a category that separates Asian artists from the wider Grammy field.
The group has become one of the biggest global acts in music, making the question of how Asian artists are categorised at the Grammys particularly sensitive.
Grammy CEO reacts to BTS’ decision
Soon after BTS took their stance, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said he was “saddened” by the group’s decision to sit out the Grammy submission process, while also making clear that he respected the group’s choice.
But his response did not end the controversy. Instead, it prompted ARMY to look more closely at Mason’s history within the Asian music industry — and that is where SM Entertainment entered the conversation.
Harvey Mason Jr.’s SM Entertainment connection
Before taking the top position at the Recording Academy, Mason had worked with SM Entertainment and collaborated with several of the company’s artists, along with other Asian musicians.
That professional history has now resurfaced as fans question his defence of the new Asian Pop category. SM Entertainment is one of South Korea’s most powerful entertainment companies and has been behind major K-pop acts, including EXO, NCT and aespa.
For ARMY, Mason’s previous involvement with the company has created an uncomfortable question: could his familiarity with SM Entertainment and its artists have influenced how the Recording Academy approached Asian pop?
Why are EXO and SM artists being mentioned?
Fans have pointed to the fact that SM acts have repeatedly sought recognition from the Recording Academy without securing a Grammy nomination, while the introduction of an Asian-specific category creates another potential avenue for Asian acts to compete for an award. That has led to speculation that SM artists could be among those who benefit from the new category.
Some ARMY have gone further, arguing that the category was introduced at a convenient time for established Asian acts that have struggled to break through in the Grammys’ traditional categories.
Harvey Mason Jr. read Grammys CEO produced 20 works for 11 different SM acts and a business with SM. More than a decade of lucrative relationship with the most famous for criminal bribery company in music industry.
For the past 6+ years SM has been submitting to Grammys anything… https://t.co/9EwTYaARPjpic.twitter.com/D7Oi0gcOeI
— t⁷ for BTS (@taesoothe) July 30, 2026
Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. has close ties to SM Entertainment and has songwriting/composition credits on tracks by SM artists.His wife, Britt Burton, has also worked in the same industry.The whole situation feels incredibly shady—you can smell the stench from a planet away. 🤷♀️ pic.twitter.com/v4N9jhWqqK
— 𝚈𝚞𝚗𝚊⁷ʟᴀʏᴏ(ꪜ)ᴇʀ (@surah3200) July 31, 2026
Antes de convertirse en CEO de la Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr. trabajó con SM Entertainment, una de las compañías de entretenimiento más importantes de Corea del Sur, colaborando con varios de sus artistas y con otros artistas asiáticos. Con esa experiencia dentro de esa… pic.twitter.com/dovpKJRJy8
— BTS Daily Chile⁷ (@BTSDailyChile) July 30, 2026
Was the Asian Pop category meant to help Asian artists?
The Recording Academy’s stated reasoning is considerably broader. The category was introduced as recognition of the growing influence of Asian pop music and the increasing global reach of artists from across the region.
For the Grammys, a dedicated category can provide Asian artists with a space to be recognised for music that may not always fit comfortably into existing categories.
But critics see the same move very differently. To them, creating a regional category risks putting Asian artists into a separate competition rather than allowing them to compete equally against artists from around the world. That distinction lies at the heart of the BTS controversy.
Grammy introduces new category ‘Best Asian Pop Music Performance’, starting 2027. pic.twitter.com/2nJO0jnekm
— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster) June 16, 2026
Is there proof of an SM Entertainment agenda?
At this point, there is an important line between fact and speculation. Mason has worked with SM Entertainment and Asian artists in the past. The Recording Academy has introduced a new Asian Pop category. BTS have decided not to submit ARIRANG. Mason has publicly responded to that decision.
What has not been established is that the category was created specifically to help SM Entertainment artists. Still, the combination of BTS’ decision, the Grammy CEO’s past industry connections and the introduction of a new regional category has given ARMY plenty to question.
What was intended by the Recording Academy as a new form of recognition for Asian pop has now become the centre of a much bigger argument: is creating a separate category a genuine step towards representation — or another way of keeping Asian artists apart from the rest of the global music industry?
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