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BINI gains Grammy buzz as New Best Asian Pop Category draws global attention
BINI gains Grammy buzz as New Best Asian Pop Category draws global attention
By Ian Ureta
Filipino girl group BINI is emerging as one of the acts being closely watched for the Recording Academy's inaugural Best Asian Pop Music Performance category at the 69th Grammy Awards, with music observers identifying the group's "Signals" EP as a potential contender if it secures a nomination.
Although the Recording Academy has yet to announce this year's nominees, BINI has increasingly been mentioned alongside some of Asia's biggest pop acts following the introduction of the new Grammy category dedicated to Asian pop music.
A nomination would mark a milestone for the eight-member group and for Philippine pop, potentially making BINI one of the first P-pop acts to receive Grammy recognition.
The Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, announced by the Recording Academy in June, recognizes pop music originating from or widely recognized across Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and other Asian-language pop releases.
The new award has also sparked debate within the music industry after global K-pop sensation BTS announced it would boycott the 69th Grammy Awards in protest of the category.
"We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year. I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language," the group said in a statement posted on Instagram on July 29.
It marks the first time BTS has declined to participate in the Grammy Awards process.
Recording Academy Chief Executive Officer Harvey Mason Jr. said he respected BTS' decision but maintained that the category was created to expand recognition for Asian artists rather than separate them from the broader competition.
"The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia," Mason said.
He added that artists entered in the category remain eligible for the Grammys' General Field awards, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year.
While BTS' absence has intensified scrutiny of the new category, it has also opened the conversation to other leading Asian acts. For BINI, whose international profile has continued to grow over the past year, the category could present an unprecedented opportunity to bring Philippine pop music onto one of the industry's biggest stages if the group earns a nomination.