A State of Trance

A State of Trance (often abbreviated as ASOT) is a Dutch trance radio show hosted by Armin van Buuren and co-producer Ruben de Ronde that first aired in June 2001. Currently, it is aired weekly every Thursday at 20:00 (CET) and 14:00 (EST). As of January 2021, ASOT is broadcast to more than 150 stations in 84 countries, and its weekly listener count surpassed 40 million.[1][2]

A State of Trance
A State of Trance Logo
Genre
Running time2 hours
Country of originNetherlands
Home station
StarringArmin van Buuren, Ruben de Ronde
Created byArmin van Buuren
Original release1 June 2001
No. of episodes1143
WebsiteA State of Trance

ASOT is broadcast as a 2-hour livestream with some stations re-airing the entire stream. However, several of its radio affiliates omit the second hour, and other stations format the show into two 58-minute segments to make time for local advertising and station branding.

Format and broadcasts

The show usually takes the format of a two-hour mix showcasing the latest releases in trance music (uplifting trance, vocal trance, and progressive trance), both promotional and commercial releases are presented.

The show has its own website, which enables fans to converse in chat rooms and forums while listening to the broadcast. The show is celebrated live each year in different locations around the globe with a lineup consisting of many trance artists.[1]

Currently it is broadcast on websites such as DI.FM and by many radio stations around the world. It is also broadcast on YouTube, where the complete programs are officially uploaded (from episode 757 in audio and from episode 800 Part 2 in video), Twitch, Facebook and VK. Individual tracks from A State of Trance are also available on a number of streaming services, including Spotify,[3] iTunes, Deezer, Tidal and Anghami.[4] Track lists for every episode can be found in the description of each YouTube stream, 1001tracklists.com, and the Episodes page of Armin van Buuren's A State of Trance website.

History

Background and growth

On 1 June 2001 (a Friday), Episode 1 was broadcast through ID&T Radio, and continuing its broadcast weekly. In the first three episodes, the show was called Into Trance. From Episode 4 onwards, it was called A State Of Trance.

Since episode seventeen, the show has aired on Thursdays.

Episode 182 was the last to air on ID&T Radio, as the show was canceled unexpectedly after the station decided to change its music policy. Episode 183 was aired a month later, through the Internet radio station ETN.fm. To better adapt to an international audience, Armin went from presenting in Dutch to presenting in English.

From Episode 185 onward, the show went from ETN.fm to DI.FM and began to synchronize on many national radio stations.

Since the 500th episode, 'A State of Trance's' annual episodic celebrations have effectively replaced Trance Energy (later simply called Energy, focusing on electro house instead of trance) as the main trance event in the Netherlands, where every year the biggest of these celebrations takes place.

From episode 800 Part 2, the show began to broadcast in video through YouTube from a new studio in Amsterdam. In addition, the Dutch DJ and producer Ruben de Ronde began to co-host the program with Armin van Buuren.

For most episodes beginning with episode 922 different DJs are invited to mix during parts of the show. Armin is absent from some episode occasionally and other DJs, such as Ferry Corsten, present those episodes.

In episode 972, Ferry Corsten's monthly residency on the show is announced.[5]

Record label (2003–present)

The label A State of Trance was formed in 2003 as a sub-label to its Dutch parent company Armada Music. The style of released music is mainly trance and progressive trance. The label is focusing on both young producers (such as Filo & Peri, 8 Wonders, Robert Nickson, and Galen Behr) as well as established artists (like Markus Schulz, Sunlounger, Sean Tyas, Signum and Vincent de Moor). It released its first vinyl release in 2003 with "Questia – Nexus Asia"[6] and reached its 100th release (ASOT100) with "The Doppler Effect – Beauty Hides in the Deep / Envio – For You (The Blizzard Remix)" in June 2008.[7]

The radio show's legacy

While it was not the first radio show to broadcast a two-hour mix from a recurring DJ, A State of Trance's legacy has extended beyond the trance scene. Part of this may be due to the fact that, for most parts of the world, A State of Trance was only accessible via Digitally Imported (also known as DI.FM), an internet radio station. Since A State of Trance has been on the air, numerous DJs have created their own radio programs similar to A State of Trance; some of these include Above & Beyond's Group Therapy (formerly Trance Around the World), Aly & Fila's Future Sound of Egypt, and Markus Schulz's Global DJ Broadcast.

Special episodes and celebrating events

Although the program usually takes the format of a mixture of two hours in which the latest musical developments are presented, special episodes are also made: broadcasts of recorded sessions, the programs in which the Tune of the Year is chosen, the Year Mix, the anniversary editions, as well as various specials.

The 100th episode was a 5-hour special show, with guest mixes and the best tunes of the 100 episodes.

The 200th episode was a 4-hour special show, with the most requested songs by listeners, a Gabriel & Dresden guest mix, and one hour of a live show from Amsterdam.

Since the 250th episode, and every subsequent 50th episode of the show, there are some celebrations that include guest trance DJs that play live. Since the 400th episode, these celebrations have often taken place in different countries.

In March 2011, during the Ultra Music Festival, A State of Trance was given its own stage as part of its A State of Trance 500 Tour. Since Ultra 2011, A State of Trance has had its own arena at Ultra and the Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas.

Since the 500th episode, A State of Trance's annual episodic celebrations have effectively replaced Trance Energy (later simply called Energy, focusing on electro house instead of trance) as the main trance event in the Netherlands, where every year the biggest of these celebrations takes place.

Regular features

Each regular broadcast features five songs selected as Tune of the Week, Future Favourite, Service for Dreamers, Trending Track and Progressive Pick.

The Tune of the Week is selected by Armin van Buuren as his personal choice of best new tune in the show.

The Future Favorite is voted for by listeners from a list of new tunes from the previous week's show. This section began in episode 090. The poll takes place at Future Favorite.

For Service for Dreamers, Armin asks the listeners of A State of Trance to submit original suggestions for a trance track that has had a meaningful impact in their lives. During episodes 248–769, when it was known as ASOT Radio Classic (and between episode 770 and 799 as Armin's Oldskool Classic), Armin would select a track from past years and briefly describe what made the track a classic. Armin also played a classic track on each of the first 16 episodes in the early days of the radio show. These tracks were productions from the 1990s and showcased some of the very earliest pioneers of the Trance genre.

The Trending Track is the most discussed track from last week's show. This section began in episode 706.

The Progressive Pick is a segment for a featured new progressive trance track. This segment began in episode 717.

Compilation series
Main article: A State Of Trance discography

A State Of Trance Series

Armin van Buuren annually releases a double mix CD of A State Of Trance compilations, as listed below:

A State Of Trance Year Mix Series

Armin van Buuren annually records so-called Year Mixes that comprises the crème de la crème of trance music from the previous year. Besides being broadcast and streamed, these are available in double mix CD format:

  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2004 Mixed by Armin van Buuren (released in double CD in 2014)
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2005 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2006 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2007 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2008 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2009 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2010 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2011 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2012 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2013 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2014 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2015 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2016 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2017 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2018 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2019 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2020 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2021 Mixed by Armin van Buuren
  • A State Of Trance Year Mix 2022 Mixed by Armin van Buuren

Awards and nominations

International Dance Music Awards
Year Category Work Result Ref.
2004 Best Podcast or Radio Show A State of Trance - Armin van Buuren Won [8]
2005 Won [9]
2006 Won [10]
2007 Won [11]
2008 Won [12]
2009 Won [13]
2010 Won [14]
2011 Won [15]
2012 Won [16]
2013 Won [17]
2014 Won [18]
2015 Nominated [19]
2016 Nominated [20]
2018 Won [21]
2019 Won [22]
2020 Won [23]

See also

References
  1. "About « A State of Trance". A State of Trance.
  2. "Today is the day! Congratulations @arminvanbuuren, rubenderonde and the entire @asot team on reaching episode 1000! #ASOT1000". Twitter. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  3. "A State of Trance now exclusively streamed on Spotify!". Armin van Buuren. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  4. "According to A State of Trance website". Enter.astateoftrance.ocm. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  5. Armin van Buuren invites Ferry Corsten to be ‘A State Of Trance’ monthly resident
  6. "Questia – Nexus Asia (2003, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  7. "The Doppler Effect / Envio - Beauty Hides In The Deep / For You (The Blizzard Remixes)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  8. "31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2017 - WMC 2017". Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  9. "31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2016 - WMC 2016". Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  10. "28th Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2013 - WMC 2013". Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  11. "31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2016 - WMC 2016". Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  12. "31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2016 - WMC 2016". Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  13. "31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2016 - WMC 2016". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  14. "31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2018 - WMC 2018". Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  15. "27th Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2012 - WMC 2012". Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  16. "27th Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2012 - WMC 2012". Archived from the original on 29 January 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  17. "28th Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2013 - WMC 2013". Archived from the original on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  18. "29th Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2014 - WMC 2014". Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  19. "31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2017 - WMC 2017". Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  20. "31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2016 - WMC 2016". Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  21. "International Dance Music Awards (IDMA) presents 2018 winners". Weraveyou.com. 22 March 2018.
  22. "WMC: International Dance Music Awards (IDMA) 2019 Winners". Co-fr.facebook.com. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  23. Lakshay Bhagtani (1 April 2020). "IDMA 2020 winners announced: Avicii's 'Tim' named as the best album". Weraveyou.com. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  24. "Corsten's Countdown". Corstenscountdown.com. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
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