Pakistan, June 18 -- When does recognition start looking like segregation? That's the question many BTS fans are asking after the Recording Academy introduced five new Grammy categories set to debut at the 69th Grammy Awards.

On paper, the move appears to be a major step toward acknowledging the massive influence of Asian music on the global stage. However, for many fans, the announcement has reopened a years-long conversation about how Asian artists are recognized and whether they're truly being treated as equals. The new category, Best Asian Pop Music Performance, will honour contemporary pop recordings from or widely recognized in Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop.

The Academy also introduced Best R&B Collaboration or D...