Here's another interesting paper written using AOTM data to create better playlist algorithms: http://ismir2011.ismir.net/papers/PS4-11.pdf

Check out this paper that uses Art of the Mix data as its foundation.

argh -- got hit by christian spammers -- hopefully have dealt with the issue

For example, I just changed the way avatars work on the site. The site used to display these default avatars if you didn't set one from your profile or have one associated with your email via gravatar. I always thought that looked ugly. Just figured out a way so that no avatar shows if you don't have one.

You may notice some changes here and there as I have some time this summer to give the site some love. Let me know if there's anything you are clamoring for!

jkj

Try out http://artofthemix.org/buzz.aspx -- it is a great new resource on the site for finding the latest news and mp3s about the artists and bands you love.

I've updated the site so now you can easily reuse your Avatar from other social networking sites on Art of the Mix.  Go to manage profile to try the new feature.

I've now added the friend feature, so you can friend different members of AOTM.  When you add a friend, they appear on your profile page.

Wedding dance mixes are a particular kind of mix with many of the same issues as other mixes, but magnified by the occassion and with many additional issues.

The wedding dance mix requires a much greater variety since you have grandparents and parents and kids along with the bride/groom friends. It is much trickier to pull off than a regular dance mix. It also usually has a lot more slow songs than many standard dance mixes.

And there are the great wedding song debates: the cheesy songs debate (no cheesiness, only certain cheesy songs but not others -- Bunny Hop, etc); the standard songs or not (Proud Mary, for example); do people have to know most of the songs; the religious songs question (who's going to carry the chairs safely?); the ethnic songs problem (these last two are also related to the big question of who exactly will dance at all and to what and who should dance); the watch for inappropriate language difficulty; the great songs but should they really be played at a wedding? conflict (all those great breakup/heartbreak/independence dance songs); the quagmire of the REALLY MEANINGFUL (but not danceable) song of the bride/groom/best person/parent, etc.; how long will the old folks last problem (and how long after they get off the floor can you really put on the loud speed metal/punk/etc); can we reallly do (do we really want to try) a line dance--electric slide, country line-- conflict; etc., etc.

Really an excellent test of whether a marriage will last is making it through the creation of a set of wedding dance mixes. When it works, it is amazing, getting all generations on the floor dancing & no one is harrassing/bribing the DJ (also much cheaper). Even if it is only so-so successful, if the bride & groom put their favorite songs on then at least they will have fun dancing.

Okay, now you can select mix of the week, determining which mixes appear at the top of the homepage. In the actions for each mix, there is a "Feature this mix" link.  Go for it everybody!