Micro-blogging is a craze that is sweeping the globe. A growing social network solution, it has presented real promotional opportunities for this publicist/publisher to promote music on the web.

Micro-blogging is a craze that is sweeping the globe.  Described as "like a blog, but much smaller," users are normally limited to a maximum of 140 characters per post.  These messages can be viewed by anyone or by a restricted group which can be chosen by the user.  These messages can be submitted by a variety of means including text messaging, instant messaging, email, MP3, or the web.

"When we were introduced to micro-blogging, we knew that it was the answer to a question we had.  How can we serve this community of artist when they don't have the confidence to write a formally formatted press release? " says Dave King, publisher of online Blues publication Cross Harp Chronicles and owner of the publicity firm Just Roots PR.

"Daily we were receiving notices from musicians regarding upcoming gigs, or planned album releases, that were complete in so much as they answered the essential  'why, what, where, when and how,' but little else.

"We could not issue these as press releases as they didn't follow an accepted format, so what were we to do?"

Twitter was the first such service to which King was introduced.  Introduced in July 2006, Twitter won the Web Award in the blog category at the 2007 South by Southwest Conference in Austin, Texas.

As with everything that proves a leader, and demonstrates an ability to fill a need, there has been a proliferation of Twitter clones born worldwide.  According to some sources, the number of such services worldwide approach 200 in number.

"We knew that if we were to create a network of such micro-blogs and find an aggregate to deliver our messages to these sites simultaneously, we could optimize our reach and offer the artist truly increased exposure." King continues. " So we researched this trend and have identified the leaders." 

The leaders in this field have some truly unusual names.  This list that King has put together includes fifteen of the biggest sites.  This includes Pownce, which integrates micro-blogging with file sharing and event invitations; Spoink,a multi-media micro-blogging service that integrates blogging, pod casting, telephony and SMS testing, and supports all major mobile audio, video and picture formats; Plurk, which utilizes a rich interface and horizontal time line to add a spatial dimension to micro-blogging; and open source contender Identi.ca launched in July 2008, built on an open micro-blogging tool Laconia. As well as the leader, Twitter. 

As with the majority of micro-blog entries King makes, they are normally accompanied with a link to the larger story, and in some cases photos,  audio and video-links ,  which really make each entry come alive.

"This is one of the platforms we are developing to truly take Blues, Jazz and Roots music into the 21st century."  concludes King.

If you are a Blues, Jazz, or Roots musician, and interested in optimizing your personal exposure...

Or a journalist, blogger, radio or TV talk show host,  or engaged in the music industry in whatever capacity

Or a music fan and wish to be kept up to date on what is happening with these musics,  

Look for his presence on any of the major micro-blogging sites.  Ask to become a follower, or social media friend and receive two F--ree gifts for a limited time.  His firm is registered with most of them as justrootspr.