diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/accounts_profile_interests.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/accounts_profile_interests.js
index 84b205777..48674efd6 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/accounts_profile_interests.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/accounts_profile_interests.js
@@ -121,19 +121,24 @@
 
       // Column 2 - genres
       var genres = profileUtils.virtualBandGenreList(userDetail.genres)
-      $virtualBandGenreList.html(genres && genres.length > 0 ? genres : NONE_SPECIFIED)
+      var genreIds = profileUtils.getGenreIds(profileUtils.virtualBandGenres(userDetail.genres));
+      $virtualBandGenreList.data('genres', genreIds).html(genres && genres.length > 0 ? genres : NONE_SPECIFIED)
 
       genres = profileUtils.traditionalBandGenreList(userDetail.genres)
-      $traditionalBandGenreList.html(genres && genres.length > 0 ? genres : NONE_SPECIFIED)
+      var genreIds = profileUtils.getGenreIds(profileUtils.traditionalBandGenres(userDetail.genres));
+      $traditionalBandGenreList.data('genres', genreIds).html(genres && genres.length > 0 ? genres : NONE_SPECIFIED)
 
       genres = profileUtils.paidSessionGenreList(userDetail.genres)
-      $paidSessionsGenreList.html(genres && genres.length > 0 ? genres : NONE_SPECIFIED)
+      var genreIds = profileUtils.getGenreIds(profileUtils.paidSessionGenres(userDetail.genres));
+      $paidSessionsGenreList.data('genres', genreIds).html(genres && genres.length > 0 ? genres : NONE_SPECIFIED)
 
       genres = profileUtils.freeSessionGenreList(userDetail.genres)
-      $freeSessionsGenreList.html(genres && genres.length > 0 ? genres : NONE_SPECIFIED)
+      var genreIds = profileUtils.getGenreIds(profileUtils.freeSessionGenres(userDetail.genres));
+      $freeSessionsGenreList.data('genres', genreIds).html(genres && genres.length > 0 ? genres : NONE_SPECIFIED)
 
       genres = profileUtils.cowritingGenreList(userDetail.genres)
-      $cowritingGenreList.html(genres && genres.length > 0 ? genres : NONE_SPECIFIED)
+      var genreIds = profileUtils.getGenreIds(profileUtils.cowritingGenres(userDetail.genres));
+      $cowritingGenreList.data('genres', genreIds).html(genres && genres.length > 0 ? genres : NONE_SPECIFIED)
 
       // Column 3 - misc (play commitment, rates, cowriting purpose)
       $virtualBandCommitment.val(userDetail.virtual_band_commitment)
@@ -165,7 +170,7 @@
         }
 
         ui.launchGenreSelectorDialog(type, genres, function(selectedGenres) {
-          $genreList.html(selectedGenres && selectedGenres.length > 0 ? selectedGenres.join(GENRE_LIST_DELIMITER) : NONE_SPECIFIED)
+          $genreList.data('genres', selectedGenres).html(selectedGenres && selectedGenres.length > 0 ? selectedGenres.join(GENRE_LIST_DELIMITER) : NONE_SPECIFIED)
         })
 
         return false
@@ -278,24 +283,24 @@
 
       api.updateUser({
         virtual_band: $screen.find('input[name=virtual_band]:checked').val(),
-        virtual_band_genres: $virtualBandGenreList.html() === NONE_SPECIFIED ? [] : $virtualBandGenreList.html().split(GENRE_LIST_DELIMITER),
+        virtual_band_genres: $virtualBandGenreList.data('genres'),
         virtual_band_commitment: $virtualBandCommitment.val(),
 
         traditional_band: $screen.find('input[name=traditional_band]:checked').val(),
-        traditional_band_genres: $traditionalBandGenreList.html() === NONE_SPECIFIED ? [] : $traditionalBandGenreList.html().split(GENRE_LIST_DELIMITER),
+        traditional_band_genres: $traditionalBandGenreList.data('genres'),
         traditional_band_commitment: $traditionalBandCommitment.val(),
         traditional_band_touring: $traditionalTouringOption.val(),
 
         paid_sessions: $screen.find('input[name=paid_sessions]:checked').val(),
-        paid_session_genres: $paidSessionsGenreList.html() === NONE_SPECIFIED ? [] : $paidSessionsGenreList.html().split(GENRE_LIST_DELIMITER),
+        paid_session_genres: $paidSessionsGenreList.data('genres'),
         paid_sessions_hourly_rate: profileUtils.normalizeMoneyForSubmit($hourlyRate.val()),
         paid_sessions_daily_rate: profileUtils.normalizeMoneyForSubmit($dailyRate.val()),
 
         free_sessions: $screen.find('input[name=free_sessions]:checked').val(),
-        free_session_genres: $freeSessionsGenreList.html() === NONE_SPECIFIED ? [] : $freeSessionsGenreList.html().split(GENRE_LIST_DELIMITER),
+        free_session_genres: $freeSessionsGenreList.data('genres'),
 
         cowriting: $screen.find('input[name=cowriting]:checked').val(),
-        cowriting_genres: $cowritingGenreList.html() === NONE_SPECIFIED ? [] : $cowritingGenreList.html().split(GENRE_LIST_DELIMITER),
+        cowriting_genres: $cowritingGenreList.data('genres'),
         cowriting_purpose: $cowritingPurpose.val()
       })
       .done(postUpdateProfileSuccess)
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/dialog/genreSelectorDialog.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/dialog/genreSelectorDialog.js
index 3a9bf4c4f..c119cfb06 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/dialog/genreSelectorDialog.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/dialog/genreSelectorDialog.js
@@ -28,7 +28,14 @@
             checked = 'checked';
           }
 
-          $genres.append('<input type="checkbox" value="' + val.id + '" ' + checked + ' />' + val.description);
+          var $input = $('<input type="checkbox" />')
+          $input.val(val.id)
+          if(checked == 'checked') {
+            $input.attr('checked', 'checked')
+          }
+
+          $genres.append($input);
+          $genres.append(val.description);
           $genres.append('</li>');
         });
       }
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/profile_utils.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/profile_utils.js
index c25035936..8629a738c 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/profile_utils.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/profile_utils.js
@@ -97,6 +97,17 @@
     return list;
   }
 
+
+  profileUtils.getGenreIds = function(genres) {
+    var list = []
+
+    for (var i=0; i < genres.length; i++) {
+      list.push(genres[i].genre_id);
+    }
+
+    return list;
+  }
+
   // the server stores money in cents; display it as such
   profileUtils.normalizeMoneyForDisplay = function(serverValue) {
     if (!serverValue || serverValue==="") {