Armin van Buuren has remained one of trance and progressive house's most successful and influential figures since the late 1990s. Establishing a cinematic sound influenced by synth pioneers like Klaus Schulze and Jean Michel Jarre, he achieved chart success with early singles like 1997's "Blue Fear" before he initiated his extensive run of mix CDs. He launched the highly successful radio show A State of Trance in 2001 -- the program's weekly broadcasts, as well as its annual compilations and mix CDs, have helped maintain trance's popularity long after its commercial peak aroun...