Ukrainian Jamala becomes Grammy insider and will help pick the winners
Jamala (Photo: instagram.com/jamalajaaa)
Ukrainian singer Jamala shared good news: she has become a member of the Grammy Academy and called it recognition of her professional standing, as she announced on Instagram.
What Jamala wrote
"I'm a Grammy Academy member. This means that from now on, I have voting rights in the most prestigious music award in the world, the Grammy Awards," the star shared.
She admitted that this is important to her because, as Jamala explained, it's not just about a "title."
"This is recognition of your professional merit. This is access to a community that determines not just popularity, but quality. This is an opportunity to shape the history of modern music. It sounds lofty, but it's a fact. And, what is especially important, it's a chance to be a voice for Ukrainian music where it's still scarcely represented," the artist said.
"Maybe I sometimes seem overly dreamy. But I sincerely believe that Ukrainian music deserves to be heard. On the most famous stages. In the highest halls. In the conversations that shape the future of the industry," she added.
Jamala thanked everyone who believes in her and supports her on this journey. And she doesn't plan to stop here.
"And I know: this is only the beginning," she concluded.
Fans flooded the comments to congratulate Jamala on the big news, writing:
- Congratulations! This is a great pride.
- What wonderful news!
- Wow! Fully deserved title! So happy and proud.
- Congratulations! Overwhelmed with joy and pride. Thank you for once choosing the path of faith... And reaching the top of the musical Olympus. Your voice makes a difference.
- Sincere congratulations. It's inspiring to know that you will represent Ukraine.
What it means to be a member of the Grammy Academy
When an artist or producer says they've become a Grammy Academy member, it means they've joined the Recording Academy. It's an influential organization that not only presents the Grammy Awards but also helps shape the direction of the global music industry.
The Recording Academy (officially the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) is a professional community of musicians, producers, songwriters, engineers, and other music professionals. They are the ones who annually determine who receives the Oscar of the music world, the Grammy statuette.
What the status of an Academy member offers:
- The right to vote in the selection of Grammy nominees and winners
- Access to a closed professional community for networking, collaboration, and music creation
- The opportunity to represent one's country in the global cultural dialogue
- Recognition of professional impact at the international level
Not all members have voting rights, but only Voting Members. The Academy is actively working to improve inclusivity and refresh its membership. As of 2025, the Academy includes thousands of members, and thousands of them are eligible to vote.
Earlier, we reported how Jamala performed at Eurovision and why her show still brings people to tears.
