Jun 23, 2026 1:03pm IST
Shalmali Kholgade, K-Pop Star Aria, Producer Ashwin Bhaskar On Grammys’ Asian Pop Category (EXCLUSIVE)
Aiming to recognise outstanding K-Pop, J-pop, C-pop, and other Asian-language recordings, the Recording Academy has added a Best Asian Pop Music Performance category to its lineup starting with the upcoming edition. While this provides Asian artists a better chance at winning a golden gramophone, the fan response has been mixed.
As K-Pop admirers express concern over the new category, Variety India spoke with talents working in the crossover space between Indian and East Asian music to gauge their reactions.
Stronger stage
Producer Ashwin Bhaskar, who collaborated with K-Pop star AleXa on the single "TATTOO," views the move as an acknowledgement of Asian music’s global impact. “The introduction of the Asian Pop Music Performance category is an interesting and positive move," Bhaskar says. "While there is controversy around creating a separate category rather than recognizing artists within mainstream pop, I believe this gives Asian music a stronger international stage.” He notes that the eligibility criteria, which exclude all-English tracks, will encourage recognition for artists performing in their native languages, including those from India.
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Better chances
Philip Youngjin Yoon, Managing Director at DR Music (home to K-Pop group BLACKSWAN), sees this as a meaningful step. “For K-Pop, I believe this could increase the chances of receiving recognition and awards,” says Yoon, who oversaw the debut of India’s first K-Pop star, Sriya. He adds that while K-pop has achieved commercial success, Grammy recognition has been limited by direct competition in broader categories. This change could highlight a wider range of Korean-language releases.
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Cautious consideration
On the Indian front, Shalmali Kholgade, who collaborated with Chinese–Australian singer Wengie on "Thing You Want," considers the addition long overdue but remains cautious. “I'd want to look closely at how they're defining 'Asian Pop’ because Asia is a very diverse continent," she notes. "If the criteria are broad enough to include the richness of this region and not just what's already familiar to Western audiences, it could be genuinely transformative.” Kholgade adds that a dedicated category creates a "legitimate pathway" for Indian artists that previously did not exist. "That matters. Recognition starts with being seen in the right room," she affirms.
Aria, the Indian member of K-Pop group X:IN, hopes the category reflects the continent's full diversity. “I feel like it is a great opportunity for Asian music and musicians to be recognized and appreciated internationally," she says. "This initiative could be an important step toward highlighting the creativity of artists across Asia.”
The impact of this addition now rests with the Recording Academy, and whether it will truly celebrate Asian diversity or serve as a way to separate these artists from mainstream recognition.
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