Building Your EPK

If you don’t already have an Electronic Press Kit (or EPK), you could be missing out on valuable opportunities. Let’s break down how to craft an EPK that opens doors in the music industry.

Why Do I Need an EPK?
Think of an EPK as your resume. Much like your resume, an EPK is tailored toward the position you are applying for. It’s more for the music industry folks rather than fans, and if you haven’t figured it out by now, being a successful artist is just as much about the connections you make as it is about the music. Let’s say you’re contacting venues; you are basically submitting a job application, and you want to show that you can perform the job’s essential duties, i.e., sell tickets and entertain an audience. Or you can tell media outlets that you have a noteworthy story, whether that be an upcoming release, a tour, or other accomplishments. You could also introduce yourself to another act and show why you would be a great opener for them. No matter who you’re trying to connect with in the music business, your EPK gives them an at-a-glance overview of your work and why they should work with you.

What Do I Put In My EPK?

1. Music Samples
   Include your newest or most popular releases; whatever songs you choose, make sure that they’re indicative of your sound, well-received, and easily playable. Most platforms will allow you to integrate or embed from streaming platforms like Spotify or Soundcloud if that’s where your music is. If you are not yet streaming, you can typically embed sound files as well. Provide at least two but no more than five.

2. Social Media Links
   This one should be a no-brainer. Provide all of your links to social media; some platforms will even integrate your feed into the page.

3. Artist Biographies
   Include three versions of your bio:
   - A short elevator pitch (1-2 sentences) that explains who you are as an artist. Primarily for quick reference.
   - A medium bio (1-2 paragraphs) that explains in more precise detail who you are and what your music is like. Great to pull from for press and social media use.
   - A long bio (3-5 paragraphs) that tells your story in even more detail, including accomplishments, influences, and anything else that is central to your work. These are also great resources for press and outlining your full journey as an artist.

4. Press Photos

   Let’s be real for a second: pictures from your phone just won’t cut it. It’s in your best interest to utilize professional photography for headshots, promo photos, and live photos. Ensure that they are not only displayed as a design element but are easily downloadable and in appropriate file formats. Pick the images you want to use on the page and keep them along with a few additional pictures in a drive folder that is linked on your EPK. This is not the same as your photo gallery on your website; use only the photos that you want to be included in official press and social media posts. Don’t forget to also provide clean, formatted logos that the venue can use.

5. Videos
   Videos are one of the most essential parts of your EPK, especially when booking. Most booking agents and managers want to hear what you sound like live and see your stage presence. Show them high-quality videos from great shows that highlight your strengths, and do it fast. Keep videos near the top of the page and make them engaging early, as most will likely not watch the whole thing, unfortunately. If you have a music video, that’s great to show off, but it does not replace the effect of a live video. Include two videos at most, and if you have more, just add a link to them.

6. Press Coverage
   Press coverage can include reviews and interviews from blogs, magazines, and other news or media outlets. Provide a short quote or headline that summarizes the piece and link to it. Just be sure to use the good ones.

7. Notable Stats
   Stats are not entirely necessary, but a nice bonus if you have a strong social media following or impressive streaming numbers. Just keep in mind who your audience is. A lot of very successful local acts or cover bands may not have strong streaming numbers but can draw big crowds at local venues.

8. Past and Upcoming Shows
   Show people that you are actively touring, what kind of rooms you’ve played in, in what markets, with whom, and when they can see you for themselves. This can help booking managers determine if you are a good fit for their venue. Keep your past performances to the most recent few months; don’t bury all of your information under a never-ending list of dates. Bandsintown is a great option, as most platforms will have an easy integration, and updates will auto-populate.

9. Notable Shows and Accolades
   These can be included in your press section if there are pieces about them, and if they are great, there's no need to duplicate that information. However, if you sold out some shows, opened for a prominent artist, played in festivals, or even won awards, be sure that those things are highlighted.

10. Stage Plot
    Stage plots are especially important if your goal is to book more gigs. There are plenty of free stage plot templates out there, so take your pick really. But again, make it look professional and include your tech rider as well. This makes the engineer’s job easier and helps the venue visualize the production needs for your show.

11. Recommended If You Like…
    Another optional but effective way to communicate your sound is by providing a few artists that you’d compare yourself to or draw influences from. A good way to check this is to go to your streaming profiles and see whom the algorithm compares you to.

12. Contact Info
    Finally, include your booking, management, and/or press contact information, and put it somewhere it is easy to find.

Download Our Free EPK Checklist Here

Tailor Your EPK to Your Audience
It is generally best practice to have two EPKs, one for booking and one for press. If you’re smaller, there’s no harm in having them combined; you just have to concede the extra details that you may want for one or the other. With an EPK dedicated to press, you can include more previous press and more storytelling about your career or the particular project you want the outlet to cover, excluding your previous shows and stage plot. With a booking EPK you can lead with videos, production needs, booking contacts, and so forth. If you go with just one EPK, keep your goals in mind and use your discretion as to how you prioritize content. You can always update it and move things around as priorities change.

Alternatively, you could also include a onesheet that prioritizes the content that you want your recipient to see. For example, let’s say you’re trying to garner press for an upcoming release. Pull your most vital information into a onesheet, then add additional content about your upcoming album. Onesheets are another great way to customize your messaging about your project, whether for booking or press.

Where Do I Get an EPK?
The best method I’ve found for EPKs is creating them as an unlinked page on your website. You could even make it a standalone webpage if you don’t have a site. If you’re really balling on a budget, even a word document could work. However, do keep in mind that the appearance of your EPK impacts your brand, and we want to leave a good impression, don’t we? Let’s make sure that resume looks professional before submitting it.

While there are other options for hosting your EPK out there, they come with their own costs, often including premium subscriptions to unlock all of the things you need. So, I always advise spending that money on your own website, where you have more control over the appearance, content, and scope.

Commune Music specializes in building websites and EPKs, and we would be more than happy to help put yours together! Check out our web design services to get one from scratch, copywriting and design services to polish your content, or our consulting services to review and improve your EPK.