I'm setting this post up in a FAQ-style listing in hopes that it'll be easier to navigate for people.
What is Last.fm?
Last.fm is a music site that allows you to create an account to track your listening statistics. It also provides online radio streaming, where you can personalize your own "station" with the music you prefer (out of the many tracks they provide) and listen to other users' stations.
The site also provides recommendations for other artists you may like, based off of what users with similar listening habits listen to.
OK... So why should I sign up?
If you're a music lover, and would like to share your listening preferences with the rest of the guild (for starters), or would like a way to possibly discover new (or old) music that you're not familiar with.
The site also generates weekly charts based on what all users listen to on the site. For a group, they get their own set of charts based only on the group members. This will give us a weekly Top Artists and Top Tracks chart for just us members of the guild that join the Last.fm group.
If you hate the music on the radio today, then here's your chance to be included in a set of listening data not governed by the record labels.
OK... So what's this about an Insomniacs Anonymous ''group''?
The site allows you to create groups (much like a Gaia guild in a way) that allow users with similar interests to group together. They do provide a forum over there as well, and if we wanted to spin off music discussions there (since it's a music site after all) that could be an option. The group gets it's own private forum, so we can be free of outside users there.
Once you have at least 15 members in your group, the group will begin generating the weekly Top Artist and Top Group charts previously mentioned, but only AFTER we reach 15 members over there. This can be a way to share new and favorite music with each other, and to see what other people in the guild are listening to.
If I decide to try it out, what will be required of me to participate?
Basically, you set it up, and then forget about it while it does its thing... Likely, 15 minutes (or less) of your time.
In more detail:
1) Create a user account on Last.fm.
2) Download a plug-in for your favorite media player (WinAMP, WMP, foobar, iTunes, etc.).
3) Install the plug-in.
4) Configure the plug-in:
4a) Enter your user account name and password into the plug-in configuration
4b) Add music directories from your PC to the plug-in's list.
5) Listen to your music as normal, and forget about the plug-in even being there.
Further assistance can be found HERE at the last.fm help pages.
Do I have to join the Last.fm group in order to take part in this guild?
No. It's completely optional on your part. This is a pet project, all my own, that just happens to be tied in with the guild. Of course, without participation the group will be worthless, but I'm hoping we'll have more than enough music-lovers to contribute to the group.
Will this ''group'' be limited only to IA members?
Yes. In order to be a part of the group over at Last.fm, you must be a member of the Insomniacs Anonymous guild first and foremost. As this is a group dedicated to this guild, and this guild alone, it makes sense to only allow IA members into the Last.fm group.
OK, I'm interested... how do I get in the group?
Once you have created a LastFM account, you'll have to go to the group on LastFM and then hit the Join Group link on the left side of the page. Once you apply, I can go in and approve it. Just be sure to tell me your username here though so I know it's someone from here and not just some random person. If I don't know who an application is from, I'll likely end up denying/banning it.
Anything else I should know?
Currently, as of this update, we have 9 members in the LastFM Group. Weekly Group Charts are not calculated until you have at least 15 members in the Group, so that means we're looking for at least another 6 members minimum.
Also, each member gets their own personalized "music station" where you can listen to music online from anywhere, based on music you've listened to in the past that's included in your profile (at least those artists and songs that are currently streamable). The Group also gets a radio station, built from all the group members' profiles, so it provides an easy way to check out new music (or even old music that's just new to you) that other members in the Group listen to.
If you want to see an example of what your user page might look like, you can view mine HERE.
I'll add to this post as time goes on, but for now, this should at least get the word out.
If you have questions, post a reply here and I'll get back to you. Please refrain from littering this post with non-related chit-chat, and keep to the topic at hand.
Thanks,
MMJ
Current Members
