As the clock struck midnight on Dec. 31, 1999, hundreds of thousands worldwide were reveling in clubs and arenas to the sounds of records played by their favorite DJs. Little were they to know that in the space of 10 years the record was to become an endangered species.

They probably had less idea that the entire concept of the song, with a start, middle and an end was also under threat.

"(In 2000,) I would travel the world carrying two or three crates weighing about 50 kg each just to have enough records to play to different crowds," says Richie Hawtin in an interview with the Japan Times. "That would still only be two or three different styles. That's how a set was, you would have to (create it) on two turntables with limited resources.