Today, Variety announces eight honorees for its ninth annual Hitmakers celebration. Spanning a wide range of musical genres and experience, all recipients are being recognized for their breakthrough success over the past year. All of the artists and producers being honored are also nominated for 2026 Grammy Awards.
Tate McRae — Powerhouse of the Year
EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, the singing voices of HUNTR/X — KPop Demon Hitmakers of the Year
Buddy Guy — Living Legend / Iconic Collaboration in Film Award
Alex Warren — Breakthrough of the Year
The Marías — Anti-Hit Hitmakers of the Year
Sounwave, Mustard and Jack Antonoff — Producers of the Year
Republic Records — Label of the Year
Riot Games — Interactive Music in Media Award
The above honorees will join previously announced 2025 Hitmaker of the Year Sabrina Carpenter at the event, an invitation-only brunch held on Saturday, December 6, in Los Angeles.
“We’re so excited to shine a light on some of the biggest talents of the past year, from 22-year-old pop powerhouse Tate McRae to the creators of the music of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ to 89-year-old blues legend Buddy Guy, who we’re honoring for his iconic presence in Ryan Coogler’s film ‘Sinners” as well as his immeasurable contributions to music over the decades,” said Variety’s executive music editor Jem Aswad.
“Likewise, Alex Warren and the Marías both had enormous hits with songs that are well outside the pop mainstream, and producers of the year Sounwave, Mustard and Jack Antonoff played key roles in Kendrick Lamar’s vital and culture-shifting body of work over the past 18 months, including his blockbuster album ‘GNX’ and the chart-topping single ‘Not Like Us.
“We also honor Republic Records as Label of the Year for an incredible sixth time in nine years — they released eight of Luminate’s top 25 songs of 2025 to date — and Riot Games for their curation as a platform and promoter of new music over the past two decades.”
TikTok, Riot Games and Cash App Visa will be Premier Partners of the event, while Eternal Water will be the Official Water Partner. More honorees and details will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Hitmakers Interactive Music in Media Award honors Riot Games for its pioneering work in creating and highlighting music that moves from gaming and streaming platforms to immersive live and viral experiences. For over 15 years, Riot Games has been a leader in connecting recording artists and composers to the gaming world, producing iconic collaborations that celebrate the power of music and interactive storytelling.
More honorees and details will be announced in the coming weeks.
