2016 has been a year of change for Andre Tanneberger, aka ATB. Sure, there's been the usual touring (across the USA, Australia and China), and he's also back in the studio working on his tenth album. But perhaps biggest and most ambitious of all is the complex of brand new, state-of-the-art studios that he's had built in his hometown of Bochum, in the North-West of Germany. But far from being a glitzy post-club hangout, he's planning to use them to put something back.

With chums Prof. Dr. Stefan Heinemann and Rudi Dittmann, he's founded Ruhrtone Music Management, a production and management company which will aim to produce and nurture young and up-and-coming dance music artists (its slogan is 'run like a family business', which is pretty encouraging). And with the notion of 'music production for the greater good', the company will also support non-profit music schemes, get involved with music in schools, and also help fund initiatives to help refugees in the nearby city of Essen, and the Ruhr. If only there was more of this kind of thing in dance music. It's not just all about the discos. BEN ARNOLD

What have been the new frontiers for you this year? “Blue Mountains in Australia, close to Sydney, has been an amazing

experience and will be visited again for sure. Amazing and inspiring landscape.”

Is electronic music taken seriously enough as an art-form? “Of course! Since decades! Look back to Kraftwerk and Jean Michel-Jarre, for example. Those guys are inspiring for generations of producers.”

What’s the best new bit of DJ/production technology, and why? “I simply love the Steven Slate plug-ins because they are the best analog simulating plug-ins I’ve ever heard.”

If you had to switch your style to another genre, what would it be? “I’m already known for switching genres in my sets and my tracks, and there’s no specific genre. I love to preserve the freedom to choose spontaneously.”

As a fan, what is the top price you would pay to see yourself DJ? “I think it’s presumptuous to value myself.”

What can be done to prevent drug-related deaths at dance music events? “Simply do not take drugs!”

How can we increase diversity in dance music? “Don’t produce more construction kits.”