Tate McRae, the Marías, Buddy Guy, Alex Warren and KPop Demon Hunters to Be Honored at Variety’s Ninth Annual Hitmakers Event

Variety has revealed the eight recipients of its ninth annual Hitmakers awards, celebrating a diverse array of musicians and producers who have shaped the sound of the past year. A common thread among all the honorees is their nomination for the upcoming 2026 Grammy Awards. The list features Tate McRae as Powerhouse of the Year, the vocalists of HUNTR/X—EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI—as KPop Demon Hitmakers of the Year, and blues legend Buddy Guy, who will be presented with the Living Legend / Iconic Collaboration in Film Award.

Further accolades go to Alex Warren for Breakthrough of the Year and the Marías as Anti-Hit Hitmakers of the Year, while the production trio of Sounwave, Mustard, and Jack Antonoff are named Producers of the Year. Republic Records was honored as Label of the Year, and Riot Games received the Interactive Music in Media Award. These winners will be celebrated alongside Sabrina Carpenter—previously announced as the 2025 Hitmaker of the Year—at an exclusive brunch in Los Angeles on December 6.

Jem Aswad, Variety’s executive music editor, emphasized the eclectic mix of this year’s honorees, spanning from 22-year-old pop phenomenon Tate McRae to the voices behind the animated series 'KPop Demon Hunters' and 89-year-old blues titan Buddy Guy. Guy, whose career spans seven decades and includes six Grammy Awards, is being recognized not only for his musical legacy but also for his contribution to Ryan Coogler’s film 'Sinners.' Aswad also highlighted how artists like Alex Warren and the Marías cultivated massive audiences by defying mainstream conventions, while producers Sounwave, Mustard, and Jack Antonoff were instrumental in shaping Kendrick Lamar’s recent creative output, including his chart-dominating album 'GNX' and number-one single 'Not Like Us.'

Republic Records’ selection as Label of the Year marks its sixth win in the award’s nine-year history, reinforcing its long-standing dominance in the industry. According to Luminate data, the label was responsible for eight of the top 25 most-streamed songs so far in 2025. Meanwhile, Riot Games is being honored for two decades of groundbreaking work at the intersection of music and interactive entertainment. Industry analyst Dr. Lena Cho commented, "Riot Games has fundamentally altered how music is woven into interactive media, establishing an entirely new channel for artist visibility and audience interaction that simply wasn't available before."

The event’s Premier Partners include TikTok, Riot Games, and Cash App Visa, with Eternal Water serving as the Official Water Partner. Additional award recipients and specific event programming will be announced in the weeks ahead.