Must Hear 2012

Beatport News names its Top Artists of 2012

By Beatport News Editors

The fast-moving electronic-music scene is always full of movers and shakers. And from year to year, some come, some go—but some truly stay the course, and fortunately, greatness knows no boundaries of age. This year’s must-hear artists run the gamut from 21-year-old upstarts to true statesmen of experimental dance music. The only requirement for making this list was making the Beatport News staff flip its collective lid with awe—and these 10 artists did just that. Check them all out after the jump.

Must Hear 2012

Beatport News pick its Top Albums of 2012

By Beatport News Editors

The News staff was overwhelmed by amazing releases of all shapes and sizes this year, but we couldn’t be more pleased to bring you 10 must-hear long-players from the past 12 months. Whether it was abstract house offshoots, soulful debuts, skittery rhythms, or looks back at a bygone era, there was much awesomeness to digest. So without further ado, let us present to you our favorites for 2012.

Must Hear 2012

Beatport News selects 10 must-hear compilations and mixes for 2012

By Beatport News Editors

Sure, podcasts were everywhere this year. And sure, many folks say the dance-music world is a singles game. But to our ears, very little beats a proper DJ mix or compilation, especially when they’re curated and crafted by the world’s finest selectors, clubs, and labels. There were dozens upon dozens of mixes and comps that got our attention this year, and we’re happy to finally bring you the cream of our crop—10 must-hear compilations for 2012. Enjoy!

Must Hear 2012

Beatport News chooses its Top 10 pieces of music-tech gear for 2012

By Francis Preve

Trailblazing artists, genre-blending DJs, and world-class clubs are the forward-facing trends that shape our industry. But behind the scenes, new production tools are the unsung drivers of progress in electronic music. For example, Native Instruments’ Massive softsynth is at the core of both dubstep and complextro, while Roland’s classic TR-808/909/303 boxes arguably served as the launchpad for everything we hear in clubs today.

So, if you want to get the inside track on the future sounds of dance music, you need look no further than the newest toys of the trade. Accordingly, here’s Beatport News’ take on the most interesting and innovative musical products of 2012.

Must Hear 2012

The News staff names its 10 choice Beatport Mixes of the year

By Ken Taylor

This year, Beatport was super-excited to announce our Mixes platform, a system by which any DJ can legally sell their mixes online and further expand their fan base. And since it’s blown up, naturally, it’s not just hobbyists who are getting in on the action. In fact, some of the dance music world’s biggest DJs are putting Mixes to use—and the Beatport News staff has decided to cull 10 must-hear sets of theirs for your mix-hungry ears. Check ‘em!

Must Hear 2012

Beatport News' 10 must-hear tracks and remixes of the year

By Beatport News Editors

2012 offered up way too many gems to possibly assemble an objective list of the year’s best tracks or remixes—it seemed like every day we had a new favorite or a new #1 tugging for our attention. But with that said, at the end of the year, some tracks just wouldn’t back down, keeping us hyped right on through December. So, without further ado, we offer you 10 Must-Hear Tracks and Remixes, as chosen by the staff of Beatport News.