In today’s digital terrain, internet memes are more than just humorous images or videos—they are powerful tools that can dictate trends, including the success of songs on music charts. A catchy melody combined with an engaging meme has the potential to skyrocket a track to viral status, leading to unexpected chart-topping hits. Social media platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram play a crucial role in amplifying these moments, as users continuously share and engage with trending content. Songs that might have otherwise remained unnoticed gain sudden popularity, reshaping how chart rankings are determined. This raises an essential question: how do internet memes influence chart performance? From reviving old songs to accelerating the success of new releases, memes have changed the music industry’s promotional terrain. Here’s how they impact the rankings.
1. Memes Turn Obscure Songs into Viral Hits
Before the rise of social media, songs typically gained popularity through traditional marketing and radio play. Today, however, a viral meme can turn a forgotten or unknown track into an overnight sensation. One of the best examples is Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush, which re-entered global charts in 2022 after being featured in Stranger Things and a wave of memes on TikTok. Similarly, Dreams by Fleetwood Mac saw a resurgence in popularity when a viral video of a man skateboarding while drinking cranberry juice took over the internet. When memes introduce songs to younger audiences, streaming numbers surge, ultimately impacting chart placements.
2. TikTok Challenges Drive Streaming Numbers
TikTok is one of the biggest contributors to meme-driven chart success. Dance challenges, lip-sync trends, and creative remixes make certain tracks irresistible to users. When a song becomes the backing track for a viral challenge, millions of users engage with it repeatedly, pushing it up streaming charts. Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road gained massive traction after TikTok users created memes featuring the song’s beat drop. The widespread engagement led to record-breaking chart dominance. Streaming services and Billboard now consider social media trends when calculating chart rankings, proving that TikTok challenges hold immense power over a song’s success.
Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road (image via Getty)3. Meme Culture Encourages Repeat Listening
Unlike traditional marketing, memes create an organic demand for songs by embedding them into everyday social interactions. Whether through reaction videos, comedic edits, or viral captions, songs associated with memes are played repeatedly by audiences, fueling continuous streaming. The repetitive nature of memes means people hear the same snippets of a song multiple times, creating a subconscious connection that often leads to full-length streaming. This phenomenon explains why Stay by The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber remained at the top of the charts for an extended period—its short clips were used in countless meme formats, boosting its longevity.
Stay by The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber (image via Getty)4. Artist Engagement with Memes Boosts Popularity
Artists who embrace meme culture can leverage it to enhance their chart performance. Instead of resisting the virality of memes, musicians and labels now actively participate in meme trends to promote their songs. Doja Cat, for example, frequently interacts with TikTok trends, creating her own memes that encourage fan participation. Similarly, Drake’s In My Feelings challenge became an internet sensation partly because the artist acknowledged and engaged with the viral dance trend. By integrating themselves into meme culture, artists sustain engagement, increasing their music’s longevity on the charts.