Rodrigo, KATSEYE, Spiro Set for Variety Honors
Variety will honor Olivia Rodrigo, KATSEYE and Sienna Spiro at its 10th Annual Hitmakers Celebration in Los Angeles, with more honorees to follow.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Pop
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Variety announced that Olivia Rodrigo will receive the Songwriter of the Year Award, KATSEYE the Group of the Year Award, and Sienna Spiro the Visionary Voice Award at its 10th Annual Hitmakers Celebration. Additional honorees are expected to be announced in the coming days.
Why it matters
The Hitmakers event recognizes the songwriters, producers, publishers, managers and executives behind the year's 25 most-consumed songs, spotlighting the people who shape hit music behind the scenes. For U.S. readers, it offers a snapshot of which artists and creators are driving the country's pop charts.
The honorees are tied to the 25 most-consumed songs of the year as ranked by Billboard and Luminate charts, a comparison against the full field of charting tracks. Full honoree lists remain unannounced, and the criteria for individual award winners beyond chart consumption were not detailed in the source.
The players
Olivia Rodrigo
Rodrigo is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter whose debut album SOUR earned three Grammy Awards, and who also organized the Daisy Chain Fields festival that raised $20 million for nonprofits.
KATSEYE
KATSEYE is a global girl group whose film KATSEYE: WILD HEARTS reached audiences in 60 countries.
Sienna Spiro
Spiro is a British singer-songwriter whose album Visitor debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 and whose single Great Expectation spent three weeks at No. 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart.
The details
The celebration culminates in an invitation-only brunch on Saturday, December 5 in Los Angeles, with TikTok serving as the event's Premier Partner. Honorees are recognized for the songwriting, production, publishing and management work behind the year's most-consumed songs.
Timeline
December 2026: Variety's 10th Annual Hitmakers Celebration takes place in Los Angeles.
Saturday, December 5, 2026: Invitation-only Hitmakers brunch in Los Angeles.
Coming days: Additional honorees to be announced.
Industry Dynamics
The Hitmakers event rewards the behind-the-scenes creators of the year's most-consumed songs as ranked by Billboard and Luminate, reflecting how chart data now anchors recognition across the music business. Its honors for a songwriter, a group and a rising artist signal the industry's continued emphasis on songwriting and streaming-era consumption as measures of success.
Because the Hitmakers celebration is invitation-only, the public cannot attend the Los Angeles brunch in person. Fans can follow the honorees and the full list of winners as Variety publishes them.
The takeaway
Recognition events like Hitmakers highlight that a hit song's success depends on many contributors beyond its performer. Following who writes and produces the songs you hear can deepen your understanding of pop music.
What happens next
Additional Hitmakers honorees will be announced in the coming days, and the invitation-only brunch takes place Saturday, December 5 in Los Angeles.
Further reading
For more on the sound shaping the charts, explore Pop coverage.
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