The Variety Hitmakers Awards is an annual event held by Variety. It is the publication's first music franchise, according to the magazine, it was established to recognize "the artists, labels, executives, producers, publishers, sound mixers, engineers, managers and marketing mavens behind the year’s most consumed songs."
According the magazine: "The music editors at Variety analyze each song’s merits — including structure, melody/hook, lyrics, cultural relevance and commercial performance — and dissect who played a role in bringing the song to life, from idea to writing to production to execution and out to the marketplace." It was also confirmed by the magazine that all data used to decide the Hitmakers, comes from Luminate. The first award was presented in 2017, and the most recent event took place on December 6, 2025.
The next event will take place in 2026.
Annual honorees includes:
Varietys Hitmaker of the Year Award
The Variety's Hitmaker of the Year Award goes to an artist that had significant recognition through the year thanks to their role as a producer, writer, or performance on "highly successful songs and albums that chart well and gain widespread recognition."
The award was first given to Kendrick Lamar in 2017. In 2021, the award was presented as the hitmaker of tomorrow, and went to Jack Harlow. In 2022, the award was presented to more than one artist with Elton John and Dua Lipa both getting recognition for their collaborative hit single "Cold Heart". In 2024, Charli XCX was awarded for being "indisputably one of the greatest pop innovators of the 21st century". The most recent winner is Sabrina Carpenter who was named Variety's Hitmaker of 2025 following the commercial success of her seventh studio album, Man's Best Friend, and its lead single "Manchild". 2017: Kendrick Lamar 2018: Adam Levine 2019: Billie Eilish 2020: Harry Styles 2021: Jack Harlow (presented as Hitmaker of Tomorrow) 2022: Elton John and Dua Lipa 2023: SZA 2024: Charli XCX 2025: Sabrina Carpenter
Varietys Decade Award
Varietys Decade Award recognizes ten years of work of an individual in the music industry. The award was first given to Ellie Goulding who was awarded in 2019 for ten years of "undeniable hits". In 2021, Lana Del Rey became the second artist to be honored with the decade award in recognition to her artistry and influence. In 2024, Jack Antonoff was presented with Varietys Producer of the Decade Award in recognition of his ten years of work as a producer. In 2025, American record label, Big Loud was presented with Variety's Platinum Decade Award.
Artists 2019: Ellie Goulding — in recognition of a staying power decade of undeniable hits. 2021: Lana Del Rey — in recognition as one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 21st century. Producers 2024: Jack Antonoff — in recognition of a decade of "extensively" work as a producer of many artists. Labels 2025: Big Loud (Seth England, Joey Moi, Craig Wiseman) — in recognition of a decade of "blockbuster success" with their roster of country artists.
Varietys Producer of the Year Award Varietys Producer of the Year Award was first given to Noah "40" Shebib for his work with Canadian rapper Drake in 2018. The most recent winners are Sounwave, Mustard, and Jack Antonoff for their works with American rapper Kendrick Lamar over the last year. 2018: Noah “40” Shebib 2019: Louis Bell 2020: Mustard 2021: Mike Dean 2022: Ricky Reed 2023: Metro Boomin 2024: Daniel Nigro — for being "the key collaborator in the albums by two of the year's most culture-shifting artists" Guts by Olivia Rodrigo, and The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan. 2025: Sounwave, Mustard and Jack Antonoff — for their key roles in Kendrick Lamar's "vital and culture-shifting" blockbuster album GNX and his hit single "Not Like Us".
Varietys Songwriter of the Year Award 2018: Bebe Rexha 2019: Ryan Tedder 2020: Lewis Capaldi 2021: Olivia Rodrigo 2022: Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson 2023: Ashley Gorley 2024: Amy Allen 2025: Bruno Mars
Varietys Group of the Year Award
2018: Migos 2019: BTS 2020: Blackpink 2021: Glass Animals 2022: Imagine Dragons 2023: Boygenius
Varietys Crossover Artist Award
2017: Hailee Steinfeld 2019: Swae Lee 2020: Maren Morris 2021: Kali Uchis 2024: Laufey — for "bridging" the gap between traditional jazz and contemporary pop music.
Varietys Record of the Year
2020: The Weeknd — "Blinding Lights" 2021: BTS — "Butter" 2022: Lizzo — "About Damn Time"
Varietys Label of the Year Award
2017: Republic Records 2019: Republic Records 2021: Columbia Records 2022: Atlantic Records 2023: Republic Records 2024: REPUBLIC Corps Collective 2025: Republic Records
Varietys Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award
2018: Dua Lipa 2019: Megan Thee Stallion 2020: Roddy Ricch 2021: Polo G (presented as Rising Star Award) 2022: Latto 2023: Sabrina Carpenter (presented as Rising Star Award) 2024: Shaboozey and Benson Boone (presented as Newcomers Award) 2025: Alex Warren
Varietys Innovators of the Year Award
2018: Kevin "Coach K" Lee and Pierre "Pee" Thomas of Quality Control. 2021: Lil Nas X 2022: Kim Petras and Sam Smith
Varietys Changemaker of the Year Award
2023: Maren Morris 2024: Jelly Roll — for his work with the incarcerated and addiction recovery.
Varietys Collaborator of the Year Award
2021: Normani 2022: Future 2023: Eslabon Armado & Peso Pluma
Varietys Storyteller of the Year Award 2023: Olivia Rodrigo 2024: Lainey Wilson 2025: Megan Moroney — for her storytelling on her "stellar" album Am I Okay?
Varietys Hook of the Year Award
2019: YG — "Go Loko" (feat. Tyga and Jon Z) 2020: The Weeknd — "Blinding Lights"
Varietys Film Song of the Year
2021: Billie Eilish and Finneas — "No Time to Die" 2022: Selena Gomez — "My Mind & Me" 2023: Billie Eilish and Finneas — "What Was I Made For?"
Varietys Soundtrack of the Year Award
2023: Mark Ronson — for his work on the 2023 film Barbie. 2025: Buddy Guy (presented as Iconic Collaboration in Film Award) — for his work on the 2025 film Sinners.
Varietys Sync of the Year Award
2019: Shaed — "Trampoline" 2021: Walker Hayes — "Fancy Like" 2022: Kate Bush — "Running Up That Hill"
Varietys Triple Threat Award
2023: Victoria Monét — for her role as a singer, songwriter and performer. 2024: Raye — for her work as an artist and songwriter, and her outspoken efforts in support of the songwriting community. 2025: Role Model — for his achievements in music and film.
Varietys Manager of the Year Award
2018: Dre London 2019: Jason Owen 2020: Wassim “Sal” Slaiby 2021: Austin Rosen 2022: Ebonie Ward
Varietys Executive of the Year Award
2018: John Janick, Chief of Interscope Records 2019: Jody Gerson, CEO/Global Chairman of Universal Music Publishing Group 2020: Ron Perry, CEO/Chairman for Columbia Records 2021: Max Lousada, CEO for Warner Recorded Music 2022: Jesse Collins, CEO, Jesse Collins Entertainment 2024: Aaron Bay-Schuck and Tom Corson, CEOs of Warner Records 2025: Elliot Grainge, CEO of Atlantic Music Group
Varietys A&R of the Year Award
2021: Wendy Goldstein 2022: Kara DioGuardi
Varietys The Future Is Female Award 2021: City Girls 2025: Addison Rae, Elvira Anderfjärd, and Luka Kloser — for "breaking the glass ceiling" by making, Rae's critical acclaimed debut album Addison, entirely themselves.
Varietys Hip-Hop Disruptor Award 2024: Doechii — for emerging as one of the most "electrifying" new talents in the hip-hop/R&B scene in years. 2025: BigXthaPlug — for his "groundbreaking" fusion of music genres.
Varietys Humanitarian of the Year Award
2024: Quavo — for his work in gun control. 2025: Fuerza Regida — for their humanitarian efforts, among the Latino community, as well helping on the wildfire relief in L.A.
Other honorees Awards that have been presented only once so far:
Varietys Mediabase PowerPlaylist Award 2017: DJ Khaled
Varietys Hitbreaker of the Year Award 2021: Steven Victor
Varietys Composer of the Year Award 2021: Hans Zimmer
Varietys TikTok Future Icon Award 2022: Omar Apollo
Varietys Interactive Music in Media Award 2025: Riot Games
Varietys Music Education and Advocacy Leadership Award 2023: Grammy Museum President and CEO Michael Sticka
Varietys Trailblazer Award 2024: Young Miko
Varietys Next Gen Award 2024: Grace Bowers
Varietys International Achievement in Music Award 2024: Yoshiki
Varietys Powerhouse of the Year Award
2025: Tate McRae
Varietys Anti-Hit Hitmakers of the Year Award
2025: The Marías
Varietys Living Legend Award
2025: Buddy Guy
Varietys KPop Demon Hitmakers of the Year Award 2025: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, the singing voices of Huntrix
Varietys Global Hitmaker of the Year Award 2025: Rosé — for her "smash" debut album Rosie, and her single, "Apt.", both released in 2024.
The Hitmakers To make their annual Hitmakers list, the Varietys editors, use BuzzAngle data for the most-consumed songs of year, based on audio sales and streams, video plays, radio spins and Shazam tags. The editors then conferred with top executives and creatives from across the music business to find the players whose input was most vital to those songs. They included songwriters, producers, publishers, A&R and promotion executives, along with managers and key influencers — the people behind the scenes who make and break the hits. Variety's 2017 HitmakersVariety's 2018 HitmakersVariety's 2019 HitmakersAlex Da Kid Jack Antonoff Noonie Bao and Linus Wiklund Steve Mac and Johnny McDaid Louis Bell Benny Blanco Cirkut Frank Dukes Erika Ender Philip Lawrence and Brody Brown Metro Boomin Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd Mike Will Made It Nana Rogues Starrah The Stereotypes Ali Tamposi, Andrew Watt, and Brian Lee Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter Andres Torres and Mauricio Rengifo Adam Alpert Tunji Balogun Geo Bivins Ben Cook and Ed Howard Ian Cripps Andrea Ganis and Juliette Jones Wendy Goldstein, Rob Stevenson, and Tyler Arnold Joel Klaiman Michael Kyser Lee Leipsner Nick Petropoulos Benny Pough, Sujit Kundu, Traci Adams, and Sandra Afloarei Noah Preston Brenda Romano Rodney Shealey Sickamore and David Stromberg Manny Smith Gary Spangler, Mike Horton, and Jim Roppo Charlie Walk Ron Perry Katie Vinten Jay Brown and Lenny Santiago Future the Prince Kevin “Coach K” Lee Wassim “Sal” Slaiby Tuma Basa (Spotify's Head of Hip-Hop) Brad Belanger, Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Greg Marella Steve Blatter, SiriusXM Senior VP/GM of Music Programming Zane Lowe, Apple Music’s Beats 1 Radio Paul Tollett, Goldenvoice CEO Tom Poleman, iHeartmedia Chief Programming Officer Steve Boom, VP Amazon Music Sarah Aarons Alex Da Kid Benny Blanco BlaqNmilD Louis Bell Boi-1da Blake Anthony “Shy” Carter John Cunningham Frank Dukes Pardison Fontaine David Garcia J Kash Tay Keith Matt McGinn The Monsters & Strangerz Murda Beatz OG Parker and Deko Rice N’ Peas Noah “40” Shebib Starrah J White Pharrell Williams Joey Arbagey, Epic Records Tyler Arnold, Republic Records Tunji Balogun, RCA Records Brooklyn Johnny & Darrale Jones Jim Catino, Sony Music Nashville Tizita Makuria, Artist Partner Group Jean Nelson, Blueprint Group Records Sickamore, Interscope Records Manny Smith, Interscope Geffen A&M Mr. Morgan Rob Stevenson, Republic Records Mike Caren Ethiopia Habtemariam Jimmy Harnen Craig Kallman Michael Kyser Brad O’Donnell Dennis Reese Joe Riccitelli Jim Roppo Jacqueline Saturn Seth England, Big Loud Management Roger Gold, Gold Music Management Adam Harrison, Career Artist Management Kevin “Coach K” Lee and Pierre “Pee” Thomas Lil Bibby, Grade A Productions Adam Mersel, First Access Entertainment Dre London, London Ent Dave Rene Solomon Sobande Courtney Stewart David Stromberg