30 Must-Follow Music Insiders on Twitter

A month ago, after attracting 2 million followers, Miley Cyrus issued her last tweet. With great fanfare and a YouTube-produced rap video, she listed her reasons for quitting the popular micro-blogging site, noting in verse, "I started tweeting about pimples, I stopped living for moments, and started living for people."

Fortunately for fans of the burgeoning social media world, Cyrus' defection hasn't inspired a mass exodus among music stars. They still see Twitter as a great way to hawk wares and connect with fans. Moreover, some stars have proven as adept at tweeting as they are at creating tuneful gems.

The diversity of musical genres across the Twitter-scape is staggering. From country to rap to indie rock, more and more singers, songwriters and producers are boarding the Twitter train.

For TheWrap's group of musical insiders that you need to follow, we combine household names like Justin Timberlake and Mariah Carey with talented underground artists such as Yo La Tengo and must-read bloggers like David Gutowski.

While Cyrus is right that many high-profile tweeters are obsessed with sharing minutiae from their daily lives, she's missing the point. Interspersed with updates from trips to the cleaners and washing the dishes are priceless insights into today's hottest tours, albums and musical acts.

Below you'll find an encyclopedia of hitmakers, reviewers and moguls who are shaping today's music scene -- and keeping us in the loop through Twitter. (See also: Twitter: 50 TV Insiders to Follow Right Now and 30 Movie Insiders to Follow Right Now on Twitter)

Musicians

Mariah Carey
@MariahCarey
Mimi uses her Twitter account as a canny marketing tool. She's busy reaching out to fans, letting them know about her upcoming appearances and giving diva-licious insight into her jetsetting life.

P. Diddy
@iamdiddy
Having more than 2 million followers makes Diddy a social media kingpin. True, the plugs for Ciroc Vodka are none too subtle. Yet the ebullient Diddy is a frequent updater whose unscripted mutterings are always entertaining.

Justin Timberlake
@timberlake
Concert pictures, rehearsal break updates, golfing tips -- it’s all fodder for Timberlake’s tweets. They can come off as a little packaged, but it’s the best way to keep up with one of the biggest acts in music.

Dolly Parton
@Dolly_Parton
Venerable country star's saucy attitude still manages to come through at 140 characters. She's at her best when poking holes in her own celebrity, tweeting, "Aahhh chiropractor... Hurts so good :-) you lug these around and see if your back don't hurt!" Celebs, take note: If you're going to plague us with mundane accounts of your personal life, have a sense of humor.

Alicia Keys
@aliciakeys
Keys has turned Twitter into the place to find out about her upcoming album.

 

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