The Power of the Mix: Artists, Algorithms & the Next Era of Dance Music featuring Armin van Buuren and Apple Music

Featuring Armin Van Buuren and Apple Music’s Stephen Campbell and Tim Sweeney, this conversation explores how fully licensed DJ mixes are transforming the electronic music ecosystem — and why the human role in curation and discovery has never been more important. DJ mixes have also been one of dance music’s most powerful storytelling formats, from terrestrial radio to tapes and CDs. Over the years, as dance music continues to be one of the biggest genres to grow globally, this has expanded to curated 24/7 all-dance radio platforms and technology that supports live festival recordings and club sets. Mixes build scenes, connect fans, break artists, and preserve culture in ways algorithms alone cannot. This panel examines how artists approach the craft of the mix, why human curation matters more than ever in the streaming era, and how platforms and artists can work together to scale the craft globally  without losing its soul.