Finally kicking out the last installment of the Top Dance Songs of the Year 2013 series.

After working on all four sets for the past several months, I can honestly say and predict that EDM as we may know it is on the precipice of plateauing.

That’s not to say that it won’t be as big as ever in 2014, because it will.  However, with the watering down and manufactured sounds spurred by the big labels that churn out one anthem after another, it’s hard to differentiate between one artist or producer over the other.  It’s like “hey that formula worked for Swedish House Mafia last year, so let’s copy it 20 more times and we’re guaranteed a hit or two.

A good example of this is the young prodigy Zedd. Last year’s Spectrum and this year’s Clarity were both massive hits off of his major label debut on Interscope; so much so they released the “expanded” version of the album with the new single Stay the Night, which followed the same formula of its two predecessors.  It was a decent enough song but so obviously formulaic, I couldn't help but feel his label is boxing him in and stifling his creativity.  2014 will be a real opportunity for him to switch it up and present us with something new while clicking on the dance floor as well as radio (the latter being expected by his bosses).

Avicii clearly understands you have to stay fresh.  His single Wake Me Up, which was panned by many as too country, folksy or gimmicky, went on to become one of the biggest EDM tracks of the year. If he had major label backing, that song may likely have never made it out of the gate.

Of course, this leads me to the disco insurgence of 2013 by comeback kings Daft Punk.  Thankfully, someone over at Sony had the good sense to put some serious backing and promotion behind their latest effort. Get Lucky was also one of the biggest dance tracks of 2013 and rightfully so. With its thick bassline recalling the late great Bernard Edwards and slick guitar licks by Nile Rogers both of Chic fame, the song would fit nicely smack dab in the middle of 1979.  While I don’t see any straight-up disco resurgence going forward, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if its sibling NuDisco manages to crossover into the mainstream sometime in 2014.

With Tiesto taking up residence right next door to Britney in Las Vegas, you begin to understand the copious amounts of money surrounding EDM now as it has moved from the underground to mainstream acceptance.  The fuse has been lit in 2013 and will continue to burn (thank you Ellie G.) through 2014 before finally imploding sometime in 2015.

Party Favorz has been at this a long time and has followed the trends from Disco to Hi-NRG to House Music to Trance and so forth.  Each trend in dance music is a byproduct of another, often with a twist and I expect no difference in the future. I am not making any predictions as to what new sounds may be in store for us but my undying passion for all things dance will continue unabated and Party Favorz fully expects to take everyone down the road toward “the next big thing” as it happens.  So stick around and I’ll make sure we stay on the right path.