Ukrainian Singer Jamala Joins Recording Academy, Gains GRAMMY Voting Rights
Ukrainian singer Jamala has been invited to join the Recording Academy, the influential U.S.-based organization responsible for the GRAMMY Awards.
The Gaze reports this with reference to Suspilne, citing Jamala’s post on social media.
As a new member, Jamala will be able to submit her own works for GRAMMY consideration and participate in the voting process that determines winners of one of the music world’s highest honors.
Announcing the news, Jamala described the recognition as a meaningful step in her career.
“Why is this so important to me? Because it’s not just a title.” she stated. “It’s recognition of your professional significance. It’s access to a community that defines not only popularity but also quality. It’s an opportunity to shape the history of contemporary music. It may sound grand, but it’s a fact. And most of all, it’s a chance to be the voice of Ukrainian music where it’s still not heard enough.”
The Recording Academy, founded in 1957, brings together leading musicians, producers, engineers, and other professionals from across the American music industry.
Its mission extends beyond the annual GRAMMYs: the organization also supports music education, advocates for creators’ rights, and promotes artistic excellence worldwide.
Jamala becomes one of the few Ukrainian artists to join the Academy, following Jerry Heil’s membership in 2024.
Best known internationally for her 2016 Eurovision-winning performance of “1944,” a haunting ballad about the Soviet deportation of Crimean Tatars, Jamala has continued to gain global recognition as both an artist and cultural ambassador.
Her 2024 album “Qirim,” which explores Crimean heritage through music, was named one of Europe’s top ten albums and earned Ukraine's prestigious Shevchenko National Prize.
In early 2025, Voice of America released a documentary titled “Jamala: Songs of Freedom,” highlighting her artistic journey and her advocacy for Ukraine during wartime.
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