Iraqi singer Rahma Riyad joins Recording Academy

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Iraqi singer Rahma Riyad has been accepted as a member of the U.S.-based Recording Academy, the organization that administers the Grammy Awards. She announced the development through a post on her official Instagram account. In her statement, Riyad described music as the space where she expresses her identity and emphasized that her career has extended from Iraq to a global audience. She said she was proud to become part of the international music community and noted that the membership will allow her to build ties with professionals in the industry and share her experience on a global scale. Riyad has built a broad following across the Arab world and has been regarded in recent years as one of the prominent young voices in the region. Her acceptance into the Recording Academy adds another instance of Iraqi representation in international music institutions. The singer said her artistic identity will remain unchanged and that she will continue expanding into global music markets while maintaining her connection to Iraqi and Arab culture.