Corporate Profile

Hitmakerz is a full-service, award-winning record label based in Canada. We specialize in the creation and marketing of world-class Inuit pop music. Our mission is to help create sustainable careers in the arts and promote Inuit culture.

Hitmakerz

Hitmakerz Worldwide

  • Legal name: Hitmakerz Worldwide

  • Type: Non-profit corporation

  • Established: January 27, 2023

  • Contact

    • Email: hello@hitmakerz.com

    • Phone: +1 (867) 222-8416

    • Website: www.hitmakerz.com

    • Address: 4002 Anuri St., P. O. Box 2184, Iqaluit, NU X0A0H0, Canada

  • Articles of Incorporation, business license, and other corporate documents: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eRvz47IK-TCboBW6bZSm-D4MpZreqJNi?usp=share_link

Recent Projects

  • Fusion (2023): Improvisation and Live Sound Workshop in Ottawa

  • Digital Soundwaves (2023): Digital Mentorship Program in Iqaluit for established artists

  • Fusion (2023): Beatmaking and Songwriting Event in Ottawa

  • NUPOP Showcase Tours (2023–): Musical concert and workshop tours for Inuit artists

  • Arctic Music Conference and Arctic Music Awards (2023–): Industry Conference/Award Show

  • Qaggiavuut Mentorship (2022): Recording mentorship program

  • NUPOP – Nunavut Popular Music Export Showcase (2022–): Showcase concert series

  • Ajungi Mentorship (2020–): Virtual music and production training for aspiring artists

  • Alianait Music Training Webinars (2021): Instructional videos for aspiring Inuit artists

  • Music Industry Workshops (2021): In-person training for aspiring artists 

  • Ajungi Music Industry Coaching (2020): Virtual performance/industry training for aspiring artists

  • Inngiusituqait (2019): Traditional Inuit songs recorded by their original speakers 

  • Arctic Hitmakerz (2016-2019): Songwriting/musical training in 13+ Nunavut communities

  • Ukecray (2019): Ukulele/musical training with Aasiva in 3 Nunavut communities

  • Hatuqiniq (2018): Pre-employment and essential skills training for at-risk youth in Arviat

  • Iqaluit Landscaping (2018): Temporary low-skill employment for at-risk youth in Iqaluit

  • How to Buy a House in Nunavut (2017): An educational book on financial literacy in Nunavut

Albums

  • 2023 – Legacy “TBD”

  • 2023 – Eli Qaqqasiq-Taqtu “TBD”

  • 2023 – Joey Nowyuk “TBD”

  • 2023 – Jo Ellen Pameolik “Pink Sky”

  • 2023 – Ehski “Final Legacy”

  • 2023 – JD Mike “Rising Star”

  • 2023 – Shauna Seeteenak “Self-Determination”

  • 2023 – Qattuu “Midnight Sun”

  • 2023 – Jacob Okatsiak “Inuugapta”

  • 2022 – Looee “Qaumakuluit”

  • 2022 – Looee “Maani”

  • 2022 – Looee“I-pi-ti-ki”

  • 2021 – Inngiusituqait “Kinngaiit”

  • 2022 – Brenda Montana “Qaujimagit”

  • 2022 – Angela Amarualik “Uvannik”

  • 2022 – Joey Nowyuk “Inuugama”

  • 2021 – Aocelyn “Lovely”

  • 2021 – Joey Nowyuk “Tumitit”

  • 2021 – Shauna Seeteenak “Therapy Sessions”

  • 2019 – Ajungi “Ajungi”

  • 2018 – Aasiva “Aasiva”

  • 2018 – Angela Amarualik “Angela Amarualik”

  • 2017 – Thor Simonsen “Territorial”

  • 2017 – Kelly Fraser “Sedna”

Awards & Accolades

  • 2023 “For your Grammy Awards® Consideration” - Angela Amarualik - Best Regional Roots Music Album

  • 2023      “For your Grammy Awards® Consideration” - Qattuu - Best Regional Roots Music Album

  • 2023 Arctic Music Awards and Arctic Music Conference: FACTOR Success Story 2022-2023 Annual Report

  • 2023 Nominee: Breakout West Industry Awards: Hitmakerz “Community Excellence”

  • 2023 Indigenous HipHop Awards: Hip Hop Album of the Year – Therapy Sessions, Shauna Seeteenak

  • 2023 Recommended for Polaris Music Prize – Qattuu “Midnight Sun”

  • 2023 Nominee: SSIMA: Inuit Artist/Group of the Year – Shauna Seeteenak

  • 2023 Nominee: SSIMA: Inuit Artist/Group of the Year – Angela Amarualik

  • 2023 Nominee: SSIMA: Inuit Artist/Group of the Year – Joey Nowyuk

  • 2023 Nominee: SSIMA: Inuit Artist/Group of the Year – Brenda Montana

  • 2023 Nominee: SSIMA: Roots Album of the Year – Joey Nowyuk

  • 2023 Winner: Arctic Music Awards: Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year – Angela Amarualik

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Artist of the Year – Angela Amarualik

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Single of the Year – Angela Amarualik

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Single of the Year – Angela Amarualik ft. Qattuu

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Music Video of the Year – Angela Amarualik

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Album of the Year – Angela Amarualik

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Single of the Year – Brenda Montana

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Single of the Year – Aocelyn

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Artist of the Year – Aocelyn

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year – Aocelyn

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Music Video of the Year – Aocelyn

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Album of the Year – Aocelyn

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year – Jacob Okatsiak

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Artist of the Year – Jacob Okatsiak

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Single of the Year – Jacob Okatsiak

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Music Video of the Year – Jacob Okatsiak

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year – Shauna Seeteenak

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Artist of the Year – Shauna Seeteenak

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Single of the Year – Shauna Seeteenak

  • 2023 Nominee: Arctic Music Awards: Album of the Year – Shauna Seeteenak

  • 2022 Winner: #1 on Indigenous Music Countdown – Looee “Mumik&alirunnuk (Haali Jaali)”

  • 2022 #5 on Indigenous Music Countdown – Jacob Okatsiak “Fly High”

  • 2022 Guest Lecturer: Toronto Metropolitan University, Digital Media Entrepreneurship, Toronto, ON

  • 2022 Speaker & Panelist: Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, Ottawa, ON

  • 2022 Speaker & Panelist: Resource Fair, House of Paint Festival, Ottawa, ON

  • 2022 Speaker & Panelist: Tourism & Cultural Industries, Sealing and Fur, Nunavut Trade Show, Iqaluit, NU

  • 2022 Indigenous HipHop Awards: Hip Hop Album of the Year – Therapy Sessions, Shauna Seeteenak

  • 2022 Indigenous Hip Hop Awards: Breakthrough Artists of the Year – Therapy Sessions, Shauna Seeteenak

  • 2022 Curated Hitmakerz playlist in partnership with Canada Council for the Arts and Arctic Arts Summit

  • 2022 Capital Music Awards (Ottawa Music Industry Coalition) – Hitmakerz “Community Impact Award”

  • 2022 #8 on Indigenous Music Countdown – Aocelyn “Wrong Guy”

  • 2022 Nominee: Juno Award: Best Classical Album – Messiah’s Complex', Looee

  • 2022 Nominee: Native American Music Awards: Single of the Year – Shauna Seeteenak “Better with You”

  • 2022 Nominee: Native American Music Awards: Best Folk/Americana Video – Joey Nowyuk “Nalligigakku”

  • 2022 Nominee: Native American Music Awards: Best Traditional Vocal Album – Joey Nowyuk “Nalligigakku”

  • 2021 Winner: BRCC Business Award – Special Achievement Award – Hitmakerz

  • 2021 Speaker & Panelist: Lyrics, Languages, and Music, Indie Week, Toronto, ON

  • 2021 Music video featured in imagineNATIVE film festival – Joey Nowyuk/Shauna Seeteenak “Pray”

  • 2021 Winner: #1 on Indigenous Music Countdown – Joey Nowyuk/Shauna Seeteenak “Pray”

  • 2020 Winner: #1 on Indigenous Music Countdown – Joey Nowyuk “Nalligigakku”

  • 2020 Winner: Indigenous Music Award: Best Music Video – Joey Nowyuk

  • 2019 Winner: #1 on Indigenous Music Countdown – Ajungi feat. Angela Amarualik

  • 2019 Nominated: Indigenous Music Award: Best Producer – Angela Amarualik

  • 2019 Winner: Indigenous Music Award: Best Indigenous Language Album – Angela Amarualik

  • 2019 Nominee: Indigenous Music Award: Best New Artist – Angela Amarualik

  • 2019 Nominee: Indigenous Music Award: Best Folk Album – Aasiva “Aasiva”

  • 2019 Nominee: Indigenous Music Award: Best New Artist – Aasiva

  • 2019 Keynote Speaker – Northern Perspectives Conference, Winnipeg, MB

  • 2018 #3 in Pop Album Sales, iTunes Canada – Aasiva “Aasiva”

  • 2018 Nominee: Juno Award: R&B/Soul Recording of the Year – Human, Jhyve

  • 2018 Nominee: Juno Award: Best Indigenous Album – Sedna, Kelly Fraser

  • 2018 Nominee: Indigenous Music Award: Best Pop Album – Sedna, Kelly Fraser

In the News

Testimonials

“Hitmakerz has challenged me to follow my dreams of becoming an independent artist and is making it a reality. I'm very happy working with Thor and Sarah and I'm looking forward to my first album coming out! Qujannamiiraalu!” 

– Qattuu (Artist)

“My experience so far has been that I get prompt responses and the support I am getting from Hitmakerz has taken me to the next level. It's so vital to have this kind of support as an artist, where we can focus on our creative side and not have to worry about the administration part of it and the feeling like we have headquarters where we can connect to makes a huge difference as an artist.” 

– Looee (Artist)

"I love working with Hitmakerz. They have introduced me to some awesome Indigenous talent, a new generation of artists who will help make a better world." 

– Chris Birkett (Music Producer for Buffy Sainte Marie, Quincy Jones, Peter Gabrieal Sting, etc.)

“In the past 3 years I have Produced and Mixed a number of Hitmakerz artists…Thanks to the talent and hard work at Hitmakerz some of those songs reached #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown. During a remote recording week in Ottawa with Hitmakerz staff and artists my eyes opened to a whole new way of life in the North…The opportunity Hitmakerz is providing [Inuit] artists is really quite special and something I can be proud of being a part of.” 

– Dale Penner (Music Producer for Nickelback, Loverboy, SM6, etc.)

“Hitmakerz gave me the confidence that I can become who I dream to be. Hitmakerz is a great help and is very professional.” 

– Aocelyn (Artist)

“Working with Hitmakerz has helped me to achieve a sense of purpose with my work.  Knowing that we are working together to spread Inuit music is a great feeling. I love that my skills are being used towards something great!” 

– Teaville Bourque (Music Producer, Professor of Music Industry Arts program, Algonquin College)

“Interning at Hitmakerz was a wonderful opportunity for me to exercise and enhance the skills I learned through post-secondary education as well as expand my repertoire of knowledge and experiences through engaged work in the industry. I was thrust into the music industry and regularly learnt about its business, marketing, artist relations, project management, and other day-to-day happenings. I am grateful for my time immersed in the Hitmakerz workplace and am happy to have had the opportunity to be part of the Hitmakerz family.” 

– Kendra Seguin (Intern, Summer 2022)

“Hitmakerz has been a great company that I've worked with. The company itself has been very rewarding, and the people involved with it have been nothing but so welcoming. When I first entered the company, my main concern was not fitting in and feeling very small in a large company. But Sarah (CEO) reassured me that the company was just one big family. I was introduced to everyone and was quickly welcomed into the Hitmakerz family. The company was small but felt very big. The main company family was very small but was so welcoming. Thor, the old CEO, was very funny and outgoing. He made me feel like I had been with the company for a long time. My time with the company was a journey; many times, they have thrown me straight into different projects, and I could not be more thankful as it helped me get more of a sense of how the job works and not hold my hand through the entire process. I was fortunate enough also to help create an experience that one can get from one job. I just want to thank Sarah Elaine McLay one last time. She was the best person to ever work with and mentor I could ask for. She helped me learn more in this field than I could ask for. She has the biggest heart for everyone in the company, and I wish her the best. I wish nothing but the best for all the artists that are currently/future under Hitmakerz. Overall my experience at Hitmakerz was something that I would not trade for anything else. They have been overall accepting, and I recommend any artist to go and work with Hitmakerz as they will always put you as an artist first but treat you like family.”

– Alison Au (Intern, Winter 2023)

"Over the course of the last three months, I had the pleasure of working as a graphic design intern @hitmakerzofficial. With my term coming to an end tomorrow, I not only wanted to express my gratitude and best wishes to the Hitmakerz team, but also shout out the amazing creatives I was surrounded by.
For starters, it would be tough to say that I could have been placed alongside a better co-intern than @giuli.sau. Based on her strong work ethic and unrelenting commitment alone, I can confidently say that Giuli will go very far on her journey through the music industry. As for @kendraseguin, I have little doubt that her exceptional copywriting and journalism skills will propel her to career-related heights she never could have imagined. Despite the limited time I spent collaborating with them, I would also like to thank @thorusimonsen and @samdurrella for endowing me with their invaluable encouragement and wisdom. Finally, none of the personal and design-related growth I experienced would have been possible without @sarahelainemclay. As such, I am indebted to her for both taking a massive chance on me and pushing my boundaries as a designer. Forever and always, thank you for everything, @hitmakerzofficial."

– Chris Vasilakos (Intern, Fall 2023)