Armin Van Buuren Says Trance Is Popular Again As Dance Music Evolves

At the 2026 Winter Music Conference in Miami, Dutch trance legend Armin van Buuren appeared alongside Apple Music’s Stephen Campbell and Tim Sweeney for a keynote discussion that explored how dance music’s roots are blending with modern technology. The panel touched on everything from the unsettling rise of AI to the creative possibilities of Spatial Audio, highlighting how quickly the electronic music landscape is changing.

Speaking honestly about one of the biggest talking points in music today, van Buuren did not hide his mixed feelings about artificial intelligence. "I read a book about AI because I was skeptical and, to be honest, a bit worried about my career," he said. He explained that while technology now allows anyone to ask a program to "make me a track like Armin van Buuren," refusing to engage with these tools could be risky. "One important thing to realize: the AI we’re using right now is the worst AI we will ever use. It can only get better... if you ignore it, you’ll fall behind."

With more than two decades behind the decks, van Buuren also pointed out how melody is finding its way back into dance music. "Trance isn’t a dirty word anymore. Techno producers are bringing melodies back," he said. "It suddenly feels like something you have loved for 25 years is stylish again." He also encouraged new producers to stay true to themselves. "Dare to be different," he said, adding, "If I started playing something else, it would not feel honest or true to who I am."

The discussion also focused on how innovation is helping protect the legacy of dance music while opening new creative doors. Stephen Campbell spoke about Apple Music’s efforts to recover material that had faded away in the digital era, including iconic Fabric and The Box recordings. "When you ask what properly licensing mixes unlocks, the answer is everything," Campbell explained.

Van Buuren also spoke about how newer audio formats such as Spatial Audio are helping producers manage increasingly complex productions. He explained that the format helps reduce the feeling of overcrowding in modern mixes. "Spatial Audio simply gives you more headroom, so your ears will bleed less," he joked. He added that this creative freedom inspired him to try something unexpected, including a classical DJ mix created exclusively for Apple Music. "I remember thinking, ‘Classical DJ mix? How the hell am I supposed to do that?’" van Buuren said. "I never would have done it without that push."