A summer hit is a term in entertainment industry which refers to a title (song, album, film) released and peaked in its popularity during summer and often later quickly faded away.[1].
Rick Lyman, a culture reporter for The New York Times, wrote:[2]
"The summer hits of 2001 are making about as much money as hits from previous summers, but they are making it quicker, making more of it that ever on opening weekend. Movies are opening on more screens, generating staggering grosses, and then plummetting off the radar. Many executives of the Hollywood see this trend, which the call "front loading," as a fundamental change in the way the summer movies are watched."
A number of compilation albums are titled with words "Summer Hits", such as Hits 93 Volume 3 (22 Hot Summer Hits) or Summer Hits 2006, etc.
Songs that are marketed to be summer hits are very common, and often feature an upbeat tempo and descriptions of things such as relaxation outdoors and beach parties. These are songs considered ideal listening during summer activities. The summer hit is particularly common in modern country pop: see, for instance, Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" (which charted in multiple genres), Faith Hill's "Sunshine and Summertime," Rascal Flatts' "Summer Nights," Katy Perry's California Gurls, and Kenny Chesney's "Summertime."
The opposite of a summer hit in the music industry would be a Christmas song, a category that usually incorporates general winter songs as well.