The Billboard “Issue”

Billboard recently unveiled its inaugural AAPI issue to commemorate Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. While many commend the surge of AANHPI-centric initiatives from various organizations and corporations, it warrants careful consideration.

Billboard's execution of the project largely impresses, spotlighting trailblazers like Steve Aoki and record label 88rising, who have significantly advanced AANHPI representation in entertainment. The inclusion of an interview with the Asian photographer who shot the cover images, conducted and written by an Asian writer, also deserves kudos and underscores the importance of opportunities and representation. Billboard’s current CEO is Mike Van, a Vietnamese American, which is a historic accomplishment too. It’s unclear if he had any editorial input with the AAPI issue, but the issue's terminology gave us pause.

Peggy Gou, a DJ born in South Korea, raised in London, and residing in Berlin, graces the cover as Billboard's milestone star. Gou's accomplishments are undeniable, and the interview itself is worth a read, but labeling this as an "AAPI" issue is misleading. Gou's background places her outside the AA+PI identity. It's crucial to address this without gatekeeping Gou's achievements. Her journey as an Asian DJ resonates with the struggles of feeling marginalized, experiences shared among BIPOC communities. Yet, the misnomer for Billboard's AAPI issue disregards Gou's European upbringing and residence, inaccurately grouping her within the American Asian community. This could have been alleviated by simply calling it the API issue.