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Song of the summer

What is song of the summer? A clear definition from the recording section of our glossary, with 12 related terms, tools to try and further reading.

Definition of Song of the summer

In the Northern Hemisphere, a song of the summer is an unofficial designation of a song that is dominant both culturally and commercially between the end of May and the beginning of September in a given year, primarily in the United States. Although the idea of a song of the summer had been around as early as the 1910s, it became a common term in the 1990s. By the early 2000s, achieving the label of "song of the summer" became a competition urged on by media outlets. In the 21st century, the growing fragmentation of musical sources has made it more difficult for a single song to become overwhelmingly pervasive.

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What is Song of the summer?

In the Northern Hemisphere, a song of the summer is an unofficial designation of a song that is dominant both culturally and commercially between the end of May and the beginning of September in a given year, primarily in the United States.

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