What is MOG?

MOG is a music-oriented online social network and resource. Here, you can easily build a unique webpage dedicated to your favorite music and musicians, blog about music and anything else you like, and meet music fans from all over the world - people who share your tastes and who can introduce you to other exciting sounds and artists. Plus, MOG spotlights the latest music news and original reviews of new and classic albums on its home page, provides exclusive artist interviews and terrific music videos to watch, and offers one of the largest collections of streaming music on the web for your listening pleasure - any time and at no cost.

Why MOG?

MOG gives you a forum to express yourself about the music you enjoy; to meet like-minded fans; to discover music you'd otherwise never hear; to have access to MOG's audio and video library; and to be a part of the coolest, most culture-savvy online community on the planet.

Who are Moggers?

Music devotees from all walks of life and all corners of the globe. Musicians themselves - some famous; some on the rise; and some talented, dedicated amateurs. Media and entertainment industry pros. Doctors, lawyers, cops, scientists, and computer tech experts. Students and teachers. Mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. Anybody and everybody. If you love music, you'll love MOG.

What makes MOG different from other online communities and social networks?

Its dedication to the support and spread of great music across a wide range of styles; its literate, creative posts, in combination with its massive music and video library; and its unique MOG-O-MATIC application that can connect like-minded fans together on the basis of their music collections.

How do you MOG?

However and as often as you like. But we suggest regularly - and with relish.

How do I join MOG?

You can join right here. There's no charge.

How do I create my own MOG page?

When you register, you'll automatically get your own MOG page that you can customize with your own avatar and photos, a cool skin, and any of the widgets - special MOG gizmos - that will enable you to create, manage and present content. You can even create widgets of your own to put unique lists and information on your page.

I'm new to MOG, how can I get started?

Three quick steps will take you on your way to being part of the MOG community.

• update your profile photo
• compose a "Introducing Me" Post
• download and install MOG-O-MATIC

How do I change the default MOG avatar to my own photo?

On your My MOG page, click the default MOG avatar. That will bring you to a page where you can upload your own photo. NOTE: MOG only uses square photos, so make sure to use the "Crop" feature to make your photo a square or else it will look stretched.

How do I add widgets to my MOG?

Click the "Add widgets" link under on your profile page. A new section will appear at the top of the page containing several types of widgets you can add to your page. Check the widgets you want to add and click the "Finish" button. You can also create your own widgets to display whatever information you want to share with people who visit your MOG. NOTE: Widgets already on your page will not appear here.

What's MOG-O-MATIC?

MOG-O-MATIC is MOG's proprietary application enabling Moggers to track what songs are available as mp3s in music folders on their computer hard-drives, and what songs are played, and with what frequency. MOG-O-MATIC can list your most recent songs played, and your most frequently played songs, albums and artists in any given week and month.

Why install MOG-O-MATIC?

To allow your fellow Moggers to learn what music is currently in heavy rotation and at the forefront of your collection, and what's inspiring you. It also puts you into the on-site mix that lets you connect with Moggers who share your tastes in music.

How do you install MOG-O-MATIC?

First, you will need to download the MOG-O-MATIC client application here, install it on your computer and run it. NOTE: Make sure you add all folders that contain songs you want to "MOGify" to your MOG-O-MATIC Music Folders list. For more details on using MOG-O-MATIC, check out the FAQs for Windows or Mac. Once you're running MOG-O-MATIC, you should see your music display in My Library.

What are MOG-Automated widgets?

MOG-Automated widgets are widgets that are automatically filled in with data sent to MOG by the MOG-O-MATIC client application on your computer. For example, your "Last Songs Played" widget gets updated every time MOG-O-MATIC records a play count for a song that you play on your computer or iPod. And your "Digital Music Collection" widget contains all of the artists, albums and songs that MOG-O-MATIC finds on your computer and sends to MOG.

How do I add content to a widget?

Just click on the "Edit" link in the top-right corner of the widget you want to edit. Enter the information you want to add and click the "Add" button. You can also edit and delete previously added items. Click the "Done" button when you are finished editing the widget. NOTE: You can add and delete items in MOG-Automated widgets as well.

How do I delete a widget?

To delete a widget, click on the "x" to the right of the edit link at the top-right corner of the widget. If the widget is one of the standard MOG widgets, it will be available again from the Customize My MOG page. If it is a custom widget, you will have to re-create it if you want it on your page again.

Can I move widgets around to change the layout of my MOG page?

Certainly! Just click on the top bar of the widget and drag and drop it where you want it. NOTE: Some widgets have more freedom of movement than others.

Can I change the way items are displayed in my widgets?

Definitely! Different types of widgets have different options for customizing how items are displayed. Just click the "Edit" (pencil) icon at the top-right corner of any widget and play around with the different settings.

How do I change my MOG photo?

You can change your MOG photo by clicking your current photo on your MOG page. This will take you to the Manage My Photos page, where you can change your "outward-facing" MOG photo, as well as upload more photos and crop photos.

How do I compose a post on my MOG page?

Go to My Posts and click the "Add a Post" button. This will bring you to the Compose page, where you can write your post and tag it with the name of an artist, album and song that relates to what you've written and add other relevant or unique tags that reflect the content of the post. If you want to get fancy, you can use the posting/editing tools on the top of the composing window to change the look of your post's text with bold facing, italics, etc. Or just type in the words, and leave them as they are. You can also upload photos to your posts, audio tracks from your hard-drive, and even embed videos from sites like YouTube and Grouper. Just click the "Preview" button at the bottom of the page to preview how your post will look, and click "Publish" when you are ready to add the post to your page. NOTE: If you tag a post with an artist, album, and/or song, your post will also appear on that artist, album, and/or song page. Likewise, if you post to an artist, album or song page, your post will also appear on your MOG page under Blog Posts.

How do you post streaming audio?

When you're composing a post, there are windows on the right side of the "Add a Post" page that should be filled in with the artist, song and album that you'd like to stream. If you click the audio tab to the right of the compose window, you can see we add a 30-second sample play button if we have a sample for that track. Or you can add an MP3 of your own by clicking the link under the artist, album and song info. If you click this link, a "Select MP3 File" button will appear; click on it and a "Select" window will appear, allowing you to designate the chosen MP3 file from your hard-drive. Click on the "Select" window's "Open" button. Your song will begin to upload.

How do you post images?

Click on "Images" link on the upper right side of the "Add a Post" page. A "Select Image File" button will appear; click on it, and a "Select" window will appear, allowing you to designate the chosen jpeg image file from your hard-drive. Click on the "Select" window's "Open" button. Your image will begin to upload. When the chosen image appears in the composing box on the left side of the "Add a Post" page, you should be able to move it by dragging it with your cursor to wherever you want it to be in relation to your text.

How do you post videos?

Click on "Video" link on the upper right side of the "Add a Post" page, and a set of instructions to embed a video clip will appear. Follow those instructions to embed the video. Then, click the "Preview" button at the bottom of the page to preview how your post will look, and click "Publish" when you are ready to add the post to your page.

Why do you tag a post?

To link it to Artist, Album and/or Song pages, and to allow fellow Moggers to quickly assess topics that are associated with the post.

Why should I "MOG Up" a post?

By clicking "MOG It Up" on a post, you help other Moggers see the posts that everyone likes best.

What does "MOG It Up" mean?

"MOG It Up" let's the author know you liked the post, and drives the recently popular feature -- surfacing great content for other users.

What makes a great post?

Among other things, the writer's enthusiasm; an intriguing topic that stimulates reader talkback; a significant, rare, or provocative audio stream or video clip.

Where will my posts show up on the MOG site?

They will show up on your MOG page, and - depending on how you tag them and whether or not you stream songs or embed videos - in an artist lounge, on an album page, in the video section, in the news section, or in the reviews section.

How can I get more people to see my posts?

Share on Facebook, Digg, Reddit or other cross-promoting services/blog spots/online communities/social networks.

What are Trusted Moggers?

Trusted Moggers are members of the MOG community - fellow Moggers whose posts and point of view intrigue or entertain you, whose tastes and interests align with yours or broaden your horizons, and who seem like they'd be fun to meet and get to know. Each MOG page features a function to allow you to add Trusted Moggers, and shows a list of Moggers who trust you.

How do I add people to my list of Trusted Moggers?

To add someone to your Trusted Moggers, go to their MOG page and click the link to "Add [screen name] to my Trusted Moggers." NOTE: Make sure to add your My Trusted Moggers widget to your MOG page so you and everyone else can see who your Trusted Moggers are.

Why add Trusted Moggers?

To expand the scope of your own family on MOG, to acknowledge an interest in their taste, opinion or world view, to be alerted when they make a post, and to earn their trust.

How do you get Trusted by other Moggers?

When a Mogger's profile interests you or aligns with your tastes, make them one of your Trusted MOGs. They will probably reciprocate. And if a Mogger's post gets your attention, make a comment in the thread.

How can you find Trusted MOGs with common interests?

The same way you find other Moggers who share your tastes in music.

How do I find other Moggers who share my tastes in music?

You can do this in two ways: (1) From your MOG page, click on the "Moggers Like Me" link above your picture, which will take you to the "Browse Moggers" page set, and hit the "Most Similar" link. (2) From the MOG home page, use the "Browse Moggers" or "Featured Moggers" links on the home page, which will take you to the appropriate page, and hit the "Most Similar" link.

How do I get to an Artist page?

Simply type the name of a musician or band into the "Search" window on any MOG page and click onto the resulting link - or any artist's name on a MOG page that responds to a cursor, and it will take you to the appropriate Artist page.

How can I find my favorite albums and songs on MOG?

Use the "Search" window at the top of the MOG home page and the top-right of every other MOG page that you used to get to an Artist Lounge page. Type in the artist's name, and it will appear, followed by a list of albums and tracks by that artist. If you click on the title of and album or song that interests you, you'll go to a spotlight page dedicated to that music.

How do I find and listen to specific songs on MOG?

The same way that you find your favorite Artists, Albums and Songs on MOG. Use the "Search" window at the top of the MOG home page and the top-right of every other MOG page. Type in the artist's name and it will appear followed by a list of albums and tracks by that artist. If you click on the album or song that interests you, you'll go to the page dedicated to that music. You can play songs on the artist, album and song pages.

How can I focus on and access MOG posts about my favorite genres of music?

Simply go to the Blog Posts page. Click on any genre listed across the top to limit the posts displayed on the page to that genre only.

What are MOG Recommendations?

MOG Recommendations, which are sent in a weekly e-mail are based on what your Trusted Moggers are listening to.

What is MOGMail?

MOGMail is MOG e-mail that lets you send messages to other Moggers.

How do I send MOGMail to someone?

Go to the person's MOG page and click the link to "Send [ScreenName] a Message" or click the "Compose Message" button in your MOGMail inbox.

How do I read my MOG Mail?

Go to your MOGMail inbox and click on the subject of any message to read the message. From there, you can reply to the message by clicking the "Reply" link.

What's the MOG Gazette?

The weekly compilation of MOG's best and brightest posts, including music news flashes, the latest recommended music, videos, reviews and interviews, Mogger of the Week, and site updates. Every week, it's posted at mog.com, and is sent to your e-mail address if you so desire.

How do I unsubscribe from the MOG Gazette?

Go to My Settings, click on the "Email Notifications" bar and uncheck the box next to "Send me the weekly MOG Gazette".

Does MOG have anything to do with file-sharing?

No. And there's no need to file-share when thousands of Moggers are streaming their favorite songs and have access to MOG's voluminous streams of the best music ever made.

How do I make MOG more customized so that I get info on artists I care about?

Just about every page on MOG allows you to add an RSS feed to your Google Reader, MyYahoo! page or any other RSS reader. Every time you open the page, your customized view on MOG posts will be available, refreshed and current.

Any other ways I can keep up on MOG.com and the posts therein?

Use http://twitter.com/mogdotcom and http://friendfeed.com/mogdotcom

What's MOG Music Network?

MOG Music Network (MMN) is MOG's community of the best music blogs from around the Internet. They're brought together here at MOG for your information and enjoyment. If you think your blog should be part of MOG Music Network, you can apply here.

For more information, check out the MMN FAQ.

How can I change my password or personal information?

Your password, email address and other personal information can be changed on My Settings.

If I forget my password for MOG, how can I retrieve it?

Just go to the Forgot My Password page and reset your password.

How do I delete my account?

Go to My Settings, click on the "Delete Account" bar, check the box to acknowledge the warning associated with deleting your account. MOG will retain any posts and comments you may have made on Artist, Album and Song pages.

Where can I read MOG's Terms of Use?

MOG's Terms of Use can be found here.

How do I report content that violates MOG's Terms of Use?

Please report any violation of MOG's Terms of Use to abuse@mog.com.

How can I get support from MOG?

You can send e-mail to support@mog.com.

Are you sure that it doesn't cost any money to MOG?

Not a penny.