Dance music has evolved so much throughout the years in the 70’s it was called disco, in the 80’s it was syth-pop, in the 90’s it was house music and now it is an amalgamation of pop, house and electronica. Pop artists like; Rihanna, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Jennifer Lopez are currently dominating Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Chart. Dance music wasn’t really taken seriously as a genre – especially after the ‘death of disco’ but their has been a huge resurgence due to big name dj’s remixing and reinterpreting songs by big name pop stars like; Madonna, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé and Rihanna.
Dance music usually has been described as fun and energetic music without a real social message – this statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Dance music is fun and energetic but many artists in the community are political and want to ensure their message to be heard, whether it be about social issues or political issues. Deee-Lite ensured their fans get out and vote by recording a song called ‘Vote Baby Vote’. Ultra Nate insisted we all be ‘Free’ to do what we want to do without any worry and Jay Williams made us ‘Sweat’ until we were soaking wet to stop racial intolerance.
Music is a great way to forgot about our worries and troubles – even for just a moment. Dance music allows us to take those worries and troubles to the dancefloor and sweat them out!!! Here is a list of the record holders who have 5 or more # 1 hits on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Chart:
58. Aretha Franklin (5) **
57. Christina Aguilera (5)
56. Natasha Bedingfield (5)
55. Snopp Dogg (5)
54. Justin Timberlake (5)
53. Seal (5)
52. Shakira (5)
51. Georgie Porgie (5) **
50. Toni Braxton (5)
49. Goldfrapp (5)
48. Annie Lennox (5) **
47. Bob Sinclar (5)
46. Ce Ce Peniston (5) **
45. Jamiroquai (5)
44. Diana Ross (5) **
43. Rosabel (5)
42. Frankie Knuckles (5)
41. Gloria Gaynor (5) **
40. Inner City (5) **
39. Nelly Furtado (6)
38. Erika Jayne (6)
37. Pussycat Dolls (6)
36. Robin S (6) **
35. Martha Wash (6) **
34. David Morales (6)
33. New Order (6) **
32. Deee-Lite (6) **
31. Mary J. Blige (7)
30. Gloria Estefan (7)
29. Pitbull (7)
28. Lisa Stansfield (7) **
27. Chaka Kahn (7) **
26. Cher (7) **
25. Barbara Tucker (7)
24. Crystal Waters (7) **
23. Ultra Naté (7)
22. David Guetta (8)
21. Britney Spears (8)
20. Michael Jackson (8) **
19. C & C Music Factory/Clivilles and Cole (8) **
18. Kim English (8) **
17. Ono (9)
16. Kylie Minogue (9)
15. Depeche Mode (9)
14. Katy Perry (10)
13. Enrique Igesias (10)
12. Prince/Prince and the Revolution/Prince and New Power Generation (10) **
11. Pet Shop Boys (10)
10. Lady Gaga (12)
09. Jennifer Lopez (13)
08. Whitney Houston (13)
07. Mariah Carey (15)
06. Donna Summer (16)
05. Kristine W (16)
04. Beyoncé (18)
03. Rihanna (18)
02. Janet Jackson (19)
01. Madonna (42)
*numbers in paranthesis indicate the total number 1 hits each artist has accumulated)*
**denotes artists who have not charted on this particular chart in the last 10 years**
COALITION OF POSITIVE ENERGY 
Take those asterisks off of the late Donna Summer. The Queen of Disco had four #1 Billboard dance hits in the past decade — 2008’s “I’m A Fire” and “Stamp Your Feet,” 2009’s “Fame (The Game),” and 2010’s “To Paris With Love.”
You are correct…..my mistake – asterisks will be removed! Thanks so much for catching this!!!!