The internet has been abuzz about this turntable.fm streaming music site, and after finally getting on the virtual 1&2s, I must say that this is a revolutionary and super-fun way to experience music online. Warning: it could also be highly addictive.

Basically, it works like this: up to five “DJs” can get up on one of the five virtual turntables, and then they each take turns playing music from their queue. There seems to be almost no limit to the streaming music available to search and add to one’s queue; but even if there is, that doesn’t matter, because you have the option of uploading your own musics. With that being said, I can see this as a great way for new artists to get their music out there and heard. When your DJ turn comes around, the song at the top of your queue automatically plays. Simple as that.

Anybody can mosey on in to your room, and you can mosey on in to anybody else’s and either DJ (if there are open slots) or listen. So in most rooms, there is a crowd listening to the DJs. And whether you are DJing or not, you and the crowd can vote on if a song is “Lame” or “Awesome”. If you, or anyone else, votes “Awesome,” your little avatar bobs its head, indicating that you are feeling the current song. If a song gets too many “Lame” votes, it gets skipped. And for each “Awesome” vote that a DJ gets for their particular song, a point is added to a total that can be used to upgrade one’s avatar (as far as I know, that’s all the points are used for right now.) You can also “Fan” a DJ who is tickling your fancy; and then you can locate that DJ easily when they are elsewhere DJing in other rooms.

You can search rooms to join, and most are labeled well enough to reveal their flavor, and there is a random option as well. Now I must say that it is pretty tricky to get up and DJ in any old room you join, as you are basically just waiting for someone to bounce and leave an open slot. so is everyone else in the room, so you gotta be quick on the draw. But the best way to start DJing and accumulating points, is to start up a room with your Party People, and if you label it enticing enough, before long, you’ll have a crowd in with y’all, listening to your respective selections.

So this morning as I got my playlist together to write to, I decided I wanted to try to get up an DJ in a room with some people in it, and listen to my morning music that way. As it turns out, I got in rather quickly to a really cool Alt/Indie Rock room. It was so much fun to talk music and discover new music, and get some propers for – if I do say so myself – my outstanding taste in music. I came in with no points, and left with 41. It really is awesome to see all the little avatars bobbing their heads to a song you put out there.

So if you are a music-maven like myself, and just can’t help yourself from pimping the tunes that move you, or you are sick of your own playlist and are looking to find new jams, I highly recommend signing up for turntable.fm. There seems to be a room for every musical taste out there, and if there isn’t you can just make one up yourself.

Here are two write-ups on turntable.fm: a piece from CBSNews dot com, reporting on the red-hot site, and this piece with some good tips and advice on the virtual DJing that is sweeping the internets.

What are you waiting for? Get on that shit! and let’s get a body-rockin room started!

[Update] These days I can be found in the YouTunes room, which is full of cool people and music.

http://turntable.fm/lobby