Variety Hitmakers Awards


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:

Variety's 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
  • 2022: Elton John and Dua Lipa
  • 2023: SZA
  • 2024: Charli XCX
  • 2025: Sabrina Carpenter

    Variety's Decade Award

Variety's 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 Variety 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 — in recognition of a decade of "blockbuster success" with their roster of country artists.

    Variety's Producer of the Year Award

Variety's 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.
Awards that have been presented only once so far:
Variety's Mediabase PowerPlaylist Award
Variety's Hitbreaker of the Year Award
Variety's Composer of the Year Award
Variety's TikTok Future Icon Award
Variety's Interactive Music in Media Award
Variety's Music Education and Advocacy Leadership Award
Variety's Trailblazer Award
Variety's Next Gen Award
  • 2024: Grace Bowers
Variety’s International Achievement in Music Award
Variety's Powerhouse of the Year Award
Variety's Anti-Hit Hitmakers of the Year Award
Variety's Living Legend Award
  • 2025: Buddy Guy
Variety's KPop Demon Hitmakers of the Year Award
Variety's 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 Variety’s 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 Hitmakers

  • Alex 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
  • 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
  • Andrea Ganis & Deborah Urbont, Atlantic Records
  • Marni Halpern
  • Juliette Jones
  • Larry Khan
  • Lee L’Heureux
  • Greg Marella, Bill Evans & Dixie Tipton
  • John McMann
  • Brenda Romano
  • Rick Sackheim, Sandra Afloarei & Charlie Foster
  • Rick Sackheim, Traci Adams & Dontay Thompson, Epic Records
  • Sam Selolwane
  • Gary Spangler, David ‘Davey Dee’ Ingenloff & Mike Horton
  • Shani Gonzales
  • Amanda Hill
  • Shawn Holiday
  • Sam Taylor
  • Katy Wolaver
  • Manny Marroquin
  • Tony Maserati
  • Amy Allen
  • Benny Blanco
  • Tommy Brown
  • Cashmere Cat
  • Cirkut
  • Cook Classics
  • Mike Dean
  • Disclosure
  • Frank Dukes
  • Finneas
  • Charlie Handsome
  • Sam Hollander
  • Jonas Jeberg
  • Ilya
  • Jozzy
  • Ilsey Juber
  • Savan Kotecha
  • Madison Love
  • Victoria Monet
  • Jimmy Napes
  • Tayla Parx
  • Ricky Reed
  • Anthony Rossomando
  • Jake Sinclair
  • Stargate
  • Ali Tamposi
  • T-Minus
  • Taz Taylor & Nick Mira
  • Billy Walsh
  • Andrew Watt
  • Wheezy
  • Joey Arbagey, Epic Records
  • Tyler Arnold, Republic Records
  • Tunji Balogun, RCA Records
  • Ziggy Chareton, Island Records
  • Brandon Davis, Atlantic Records
  • Caroline “Baroline” Diaz
  • Edgar “Edd Grand” Machuca, Artist Partner Group
  • Dallas Martin, Atlantic Records
  • Rob Stevenson, Republic Records
  • Julian Swirsky, Republic Records
  • Evan Taubenfeld, Crush
  • Jeremy Vuernick, Capitol Music Group
  • Wendy Goldstein, Republic Records
  • Toby Andrews, Astralwerks
  • Mike Caren, Artist Partner Group
  • Ethiopia Habtemariam, Motown
  • Justin Lubliner, The Darkroom
  • Angie Pagano, Artist Partner Group
  • Jim Roppo, Republic Records
  • Ron Perry, Columbia Records
  • Dana Sano, Republic Records
  • Astrid Taylor, Mad Love Records and Friends Keep Secrets
  • Jason Aron and Anthony Li, Anti-Pop
  • Scooter Braun & Allison Kaye, SB Projects
  • Andrew Gertler, AG Artists
  • Roger Gold, Gold Music Management
  • Dre London, London Ent.
  • Kevin Beisler & Brandon Creed, Full Stop Management
  • Scott Nagelberg, Crush
  • Adam Leber & Gee Roberson, Maverick
  • Danny Rukasin & Brandon Goodman
  • Phil McIntyre, Philymack
  • Moe Shalizi, The Shalizi Group
  • Courtney Stewart, Right Hand Music Group
  • Juliette Jones, Atlantic Records
  • Larry Khan & Nino Cuccinello, Interscope
  • Geo Bivins, RCA Records
  • Bill Evans, Capitol Music Group
  • Andrea Ganis, Atlantic Records
  • Lori Giamela & Kevin Valentini
  • David ‘Davey Dee’ Ingenloff, Republic Records
  • Greg Marella, Capitol Music Group
  • Brenda Romano, Interscope
  • Ayelet Schiffman, Island
  • Gary Spangler, Republic Records
  • Dixie Tipton, Capitol Records
  • Shawn Holiday, Sony/ATV
  • Lillia Parsa, UMPG
  • Ryan Press, Warner Chappell
  • Casey Robison, Big Deal Music Group
  • Darryl Watts, Universal Music Publishing Group
  • Michael Alexander, Republic, Def Jam and Island
  • Matt Bernal, Republic Records
  • Jordan Blaugrund, RCA Records
  • Marleny Dominguez-Reyes & Donna Grynn, Republic Records
  • Mike Horton, Republic Records
  • Tim Hrycyshyn, Republic Records
  • Kevin Lipson, Republic Records
  • Kerri Mackar, Republic Records
  • Brooks Roach, Atlantic Records
  • Grace James, Atlantic Records
  • Joseph Carozza, Marisa Bianco, Beau Benton, Republic Records
    • Variety's Hitmakers 2020Variety's Hitmakers 2021Variety's Hitmakers 2022
    Variety's Hitmakers 2023Variety's Hitmakers 2024Variety's Hitmakers 2025