A State of Trance at 25: How Armin van Buuren Weekly Show Shaped Global Trance History

On a Thursday evening on June 1, 2001, a 24-year-old law graduate and aspiring Dutch DJ named Armin van Buuren stepped into the studio of Dutch radio station ID&T to host a humble two-hour weekly radio program. He called it A State of Trance (ASOT).

At the time, Armin had no idea that this weekly broadcast would evolve into the most influential electronic music platform in history, spanning over 1,200 episodes, broadcasting to over 40 million weekly listeners across 80 countries, and spawning global stadium festival tours across five continents.

What Is the Cultural Impact of A State of Trance?

For twenty-five years, ASOT has been the undisputed weekly ritual for trance fans worldwide. No matter where you are in the world – from London and Amsterdam to Sydney, Buenos Aires, and Tokyo – Thursday nights belong to Armin's voice proclaiming: “Turn your world into a dancefloor!”

The Breakthrough Milestones That Redefined Radio

As ASOT grew, Armin turned major episode milestones into global electronic music events:

• ASOT 200 (2005): The first episode to feature a live 4-hour broadcast celebrating listener-voted tracks, pioneering the concept of online listener interaction via early internet chatrooms.
• ASOT 500 (2011): A historic worldwide celebration spanning five continents across five consecutive weekends. Armin hosted live festival events in Den Bosch, Miami, Buenos Aires, Sydney, and Den Bosch again, drawing hundreds of thousands of ravers.
• ASOT 1000 (2021): A milestone broadcast featuring a week-long countdown of the top 1,000 trance tracks of all time, where millions of votes from across the world crowned Delerium and Tiësto's 'Silence' as the greatest trance track ever made.
• The Jaarbeurs Utrecht Sanctuary: For over a decade, the massive Jaarbeurs exhibition complex in Utrecht, Netherlands served as the annual cathedral for the flagship ASOT festival, transforming five airplane-hanger-sized halls into themed dance arenas for 40,000 international pilgrims.

The Landmark Segments That Shaped Producer Careers

What solidified ASOT's position as dance music's premier tastemaker were Armin's signature weekly segments:

• Tune of the Week: Armin's handpicked standout production of the week. Receiving this nod from Armin has launched the careers of world-class headliners, from Gareth Emery and John O'Callaghan to Aly & Fila.
• Future Favorite: Voted on exclusively by the listeners from the previous week's broadcast. Winning Future Favorite gave underground bedroom producers direct validation from the global trance community.
• Service for Dreamers: Every week, Armin invites a listener into the studio (or via voice note) to introduce a classic trance track that holds personal emotional significance – whether commemorating a wedding, memorializing a lost friend, or celebrating recovery from illness.

Armada Music: Building the Trance Industry Empire

The success of ASOT laid the foundation for Armada Music, the record label founded in 2003 by Armin van Buuren, Maykel Piron, and David Lewis. Armada grew into the largest independent dance music label in the world, providing a professional home for dozens of sub-labels including Armind, A State of Trance, Who's Afraid of 138?!, and Statement!.

Through Armada, Armin ensured that trance producers had the publishing infrastructure, digital distribution, and copyright protection needed to build sustainable international careers.

The Living Future of Trance

In 2026, as ASOT marks a quarter-century of continuous broadcasting, the show remains as vital as ever. With co-host Ferry Corsten joining the broadcast and live video streaming reaching millions across YouTube and Twitch, A State of Trance continues to prove that trance music is more than just a sound; it is a global family bound by melody and unity.

Tune in to Euphoria FM to hear classic ASOT anthems and modern peak-time bangers streaming 24/7 with zero interruption.