For decades, the name Armin van Buuren has been synonymous with Trance music. He is a five-time No.1 DJ on DJ Mag’s Top 100 list, the mastermind behind the legendary radio show A State of Trance (ASOT), and a regular headliner at festivals like Tomorrowland, Ultra, and EDC. For older generations of EDM lovers, Armin represents both musical purity and the euphoric essence of Trance.
Yet as electronic music continues to grow among younger audiences, a curious question arises: why hasn’t Armin van Buuren fully captured the attention of Gen Z? Despite their love for festivals and DJs, today’s youth often gravitate toward artists such as Martin Garrix, Alan Walker, or Fred Again.., while Armin’s name is treated with respect but not the same level of obsession. To answer this, we need to look at both his legacy and the unique listening habits of the new generation.
Armin van Buuren: The Trance Music Pioneer
Armin’s career is a blueprint for longevity in EDM. His journey spans more than 25 years, marked by timeless tracks like In and Out of Love, This Is What It Feels Like, and the viral Blah Blah Blah. His ASOT radio show has become more than a broadcast; it is a global community where millions tune in every week to experience Trance together.
To millennials and older EDM fans, Armin isn’t just another DJ. He embodies the soul of Trance: long emotional buildups, immersive melodies, and euphoric drops that feel like a spiritual escape. His festival sets often run for hours, carrying audiences through waves of energy and emotion. This dedication to the craft has cemented his status as a legend. But the way people consume music today has shifted dramatically, and that’s where the disconnect begins.
How Gen Z Consumes Music
Unlike earlier generations, Gen Z doesn’t usually sit down to listen to long-form albums or hour-long DJ sets. Their music discovery happens on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, where fifteen seconds of a catchy beat can launch a global trend. Instead of nine-minute Trance journeys, they prefer songs that offer instant gratification—a hook, a drop, or a viral dance challenge.
Their taste also leans toward hybrid genres. Future Bass, Slap House, Techno, Trap, and EDM-Pop crossovers dominate their playlists. While millennials grew up worshipping DJs through radio shows and festival DVDs, Gen Z experiences music through Spotify algorithms, curated playlists, and viral snippets.
Visual identity has also become crucial. Artists like Marshmello with his helmet or Alan Walker with his masked, mysterious persona attract younger listeners who see music as part of a wider lifestyle brand. For Gen Z, music is as much about the image and story as it is about the sound.
Why Armin Hasn’t Fully Reached Gen Z
This generational difference explains why Armin van Buuren, despite his status, hasn’t fully conquered Gen Z. His music is built on complexity and patience. Trance tracks often extend well beyond eight minutes, with slow buildups that reveal their emotional core gradually. For listeners used to quick drops, this can feel distant and difficult to access.
Armin’s branding also reflects his maturity. He has always positioned himself as a respected, almost professor-like figure—serious, focused, and timeless. While this appeals to dedicated fans of Trance, it doesn’t carry the rebellious, meme-friendly, or edgy energy that younger audiences often engage with.
Promotion is another factor. Armin thrives on long-form platforms such as ASOT, YouTube livestreams, and multi-hour festival sets. Meanwhile, Gen Z spends most of its time on TikTok, Twitch, and Instagram Reels. In other words, his strongest channels don’t fully align with the digital habits of today’s youth.
Finally, competition plays a role. Younger DJs such as Martin Garrix, Alan Walker, Illenium, Charlotte de Witte, and Fred Again.. speak directly to Gen Z through trend-savvy marketing, fresh visuals, and relatable social media content. Armin, by comparison, feels like a legend from a previous era rather than a contemporary peer.
Armin’s Attempts to Connect with Younger Fans
Despite the gap, Armin has shown clear signs of adaptation. His track Blah Blah Blah became a surprise hit on TikTok, proving that even a Trance legend can go viral when the formula is right. He has also collaborated with younger producers such as W&W and Brennan Heart, blending his Trance roots with modern festival sounds.
In recent years, his festival sets have included shorter edits and reimagined versions of his classics, tailored for faster consumption. He has embraced livestreams and behind-the-scenes content on YouTube, opening a more personal window into his life for a generation that values authenticity. These moves show that Armin is not trapped in the past; he is evolving, though perhaps more cautiously than others.
What Other DJs Have Done Right with Gen Z
Looking at his peers reveals lessons in adaptation. Martin Garrix, branded as the youthful prodigy, built his career on accessible hits like Animals and connected directly with fans through social media. Alan Walker crafted a mysterious persona with his mask and gaming-inspired visuals, perfectly aligning with Gen Z’s digital culture. Meanwhile, Fred Again.. rose to fame by embracing raw, emotional storytelling, capturing live moments that resonate with a generation seeking authenticity.
These examples highlight the importance of packaging music with narrative and visual identity. Gen Z doesn’t just listen; they want to belong to a story. While Armin has a powerful legacy, it often feels rooted in the past, with less emphasis on the short-form, visual-first culture that drives modern fandom.
Can Armin van Buuren Conquer Gen Z?
The answer depends on how you define “conquer.” If it means dominating TikTok trends and topping Gen Z Spotify charts, Armin has a long way to go. But if it means introducing younger listeners to the depth of Trance music, there’s still enormous potential.
Gen Z already loves festivals. Once they experience a live Armin set—whether at Tomorrowland or Ultra—they often discover a different side of EDM that short videos cannot capture. Nostalgia cycles also work in his favor: just as 90s fashion and vinyl records have returned, the immersive nature of Trance may find a fresh audience looking for escape from fast-paced culture.
By experimenting with crossover sounds—combining Trance with Future Rave, Techno, or Pop EDM—and embracing digital-native promotion strategies, Armin could bridge the gap. His track record proves he is capable of evolution, and his legacy gives him credibility that few others can match.
Conclusion
Armin van Buuren remains one of the greatest figures in electronic music. For older fans, he is the soundtrack of festivals, road trips, and late-night raves. For Gen Z, however, he represents a style that feels distant—longer, more complex, and less aligned with their digital-first habits.
Still, the story isn’t over. Armin has already shown that he can adapt with tracks like Blah Blah Blah and his collaborations with rising names. With the right mix of innovation and authenticity, he has the power to inspire a new generation to fall in love with Trance music. And perhaps the true magic of Armin van Buuren is not about chasing every trend but about reminding the world that music can be more than a thirty-second clip—it can be a journey, a memory, and a timeless experience.
