The Charts and the Clubs Have Different Definitions of the Song of the Summer

The song of the summer is a coveted title that can make or break an artist's career, and this year is no exception. While the charts may be dominated by established hits, club DJs are spinning a different tune - literally. Tracks like "Choosin' Texas" and "Spend Dat" are getting heavy rotation in clubs, but haven't quite reached the same level of mainstream success. This disconnect highlights the often-blurred lines between what's popular on the charts and what's actually getting people on the dance floor.

This disparity is nothing new, but it's particularly pronounced this summer. The charts are often driven by streaming and sales, while club DJs are influenced by a more grassroots, organic measure of a song's popularity. As a result, club DJs can be some of the first to identify emerging trends and artists, and their enthusiasm can often precede - or even contradict - chart success. For style-conscious readers, this means that the songs getting the most play in clubs may be the ones that end up defining the season's sound.

So what to watch next? Keep an ear out for which of these club-friendly tracks start to gain traction on the charts, and which artists are able to parlay their club success into mainstream recognition. Will "Choosin' Texas" or "Spend Dat" become the next big hit, or will a new song emerge to take their place? As the summer wears on, stay tuned to see which songs - and artists - ultimately claim the title of song of the summer.

Originally reported by rollingstone.com. StyleNews adds analysis for culture, style & media readers.