Article:MixesDB is back

Introduction

For close to 20 years, MixesDB stood as a vital hub for electronic music enthusiasts, cataloging thousands of DJ sets and tracklists. But in June 2024, the site went offline, leaving a void in the community. This Christmas Day, MixesDB is back, more modern, feature-rich, and community-driven than ever. The relaunch aims to restore MixesDB to its former glory while pushing it into an exciting new era of innovation and growth.

The History of MixesDB

MixesDB began in 2006 as a simple but powerful concept — a central repository for DJ tracklists. Over the years, it grew into one of the most essential online archives for electronic music, loved by DJs, producers, and fans alike. The site was renowned for its depth of content, rich metadata, and passionate user contributions.

However, by mid-2024, MixesDB faced technical challenges. The former owner, Martin, struggled with maintenance, outdated plugins, and compatibility issues as web standards and server requirements evolved. Eventually, the site went offline, and its future was uncertain.

That's when Matt stepped in. Recognizing the cultural significance of MixesDB, he launched a successor called Mixes.wiki. This new platform aimed to fill the gap left by MixesDB while introducing modern features and scalable infrastructure. But something was missing — the history, the legacy, and the iconic domain name "MixesDB." So, when the opportunity arose to acquire the original MixesDB domain, Matt knew what had to be done.

The Challenges of Revival

Bringing back a site like MixesDB was no small feat. The first challenge was dealing with legacy PHP and MediaWiki code. Since the original site relied on MediaWiki 1.25 with PHP 5.x, upgrading to MediaWiki 1.41 and PHP 8 meant rewriting large chunks of custom code. Hooks and extensions had to be updated to work with the latest framework, and a significant amount of manual refactoring was required.

Another major hurdle was restoring community features, especially the user-contributed content. Preserving old comments and discussions was critical to maintaining the sense of community that had made MixesDB special. Through a combination of database migration and API scripts, Matt successfully transferred these comments, ensuring old discussions remained intact on the new platform.

To ensure better long-term stability, many of the old custom features were replaced with modular MediaWiki extensions. New workflows were introduced to simplify ongoing updates and reduce the risk of future technical debt.

Relaunch and New Beginnings

On Christmas Day, MixesDB goes live once again. But this isn't just a relaunch — it's a rebirth. We have big plans for the revamped site that will make it more useful than ever. Here are some of the key highlights:

• Stricter Metadata: A new metadata system enables the community to tag tracks and artists more precisely. In the future, this will unlock powerful analytics, such as tracking which tracks are most played in DJ sets each month.
• Artist Integration via MusicBrainz: Each artist page on MixesDB will now link directly to their MusicBrainz profile. This integration allows users to view additional information about the artist, including links to their discography, social media profiles, and official websites.
• Tracklist Validation: To improve accuracy, a system has been introduced to validate tracklists, flagging potential issues like mislabeling or duplicate entries.
• Mix Series Articles: Dedicated content about famous mix series like Fabric, BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix, Breezeblock, and Balance will be added. These articles will feature direct links to players and tracklists, creating a rich, informative experience for users.
• Social Media Series: Look out for Trainspotter Tuesdays on Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok.

This Christmas, the rebirth of MixesDB isn't just a gift to its users — it's a gift to the world of electronic music. Join us in celebrating the return of this essential resource.

Welcome back to MixesDB.

Thanks

None of this would have happened without the help and support of Martin, the original owner, and all the community members.

The magic of the site comes from all the people. Check out their names and contributions on our Contributions Scores page.