Artist EPK: What to Include in a Music Press Kit
A clear electronic press kit helps the right person understand your work, find what they need, and decide what happens next.
An artist EPK is not about making your career look bigger than it is. It is about making your work easier to understand. When a writer, promoter, venue, playlist curator, or potential collaborator opens your materials, they should quickly see who you are, what you are sharing, and how to follow up.
That is why an electronic press kit matters. Instead of collecting your bio from one link, your photos from a text thread, and your music from a different platform, the person on the other side gets one useful, current place to start. It saves them time and gives your release, pitch, or booking request a more professional foundation.
1. Start with the job your EPK needs to do
Before you gather files, decide what the kit is supporting right now. A press kit for a new single needs a clear release angle and listening link. A kit for a music video needs the visual, credits, premiere timing, and a short explanation of the concept. A kit for booking should make live performance details and contact information easy to find.
You can keep one central EPK and update the lead story as your priorities change. The mistake is trying to make every project, award, old flyer, and social link equally important. Give the reader one current reason to pay attention, then support it with the essentials.
If you are still shaping the story behind the release, start with the guide on how to get an article written about you. A press kit works best when the first sentence already gives someone a clear angle to understand.
2. Write a short bio that sounds current
Your bio does not need to tell your whole life story. It should explain what kind of artist you are, what you create, where you are connected if that matters, and what you are doing now. Two useful lengths are a short version of roughly 50 to 75 words and a fuller version of roughly 150 words. The short version is for quick listings and introductions. The fuller version gives a writer or host more context.
Lead with the truth that makes your work distinct. That could be your sound, the themes in your music, your creative background, a meaningful collaboration, or a community connection. Avoid labels like “next up” or “the hottest.” They ask the reader to take your word for it. A specific detail gives them something they can actually picture.
Keep the bio in first person only if the outlet has requested that style. Otherwise, a simple third-person bio is easier for others to reuse. Read it aloud before you publish it. If it sounds like a stranger wrote a pile of compliments about you, tighten it.
3. Choose visuals that are ready to share
Strong visuals help someone picture the story before they press play. Include two to four high-quality, current artist photos with permission to share them. Add cover art or a video still when the project needs it. Keep the selection focused, and make the files easy to identify. A writer should not have to guess which image is approved or which version is current.
Use photos that represent your real creative identity. They do not need a huge budget, but they should be sharp, intentional, and consistent with the music or project you are introducing. Make both landscape and portrait options available when you can. Different publications, event calendars, and social platforms use different shapes.
Do not bury people in dozens of near-identical pictures. A short, strong set is easier to use and more likely to be used. If you have no recent images you are happy to share, solve that before the outreach begins. The visual is part of the story, not an afterthought.
4. Add music and video links that open instantly
The most important link in your EPK is the one that lets someone experience the work. Make it obvious whether you are sharing a private preview, a public release, a music video, or a live performance clip. Put the main link near the top, not at the bottom of a long list.
Open every link yourself before you send the kit. Test it on a phone, in a private browser window, and without being signed in to any account. A link that works only for you is not a working press-kit link. If a private link has a deadline, password, or download restriction, state that clearly.
Timing matters too. Spotify’s artist pitching guidance asks artists to submit unreleased music at least seven days before release, which is a useful reminder to prepare your materials before release week. The same habit helps with media and booking outreach. Give people a real chance to listen and respond.
5. Explain the current release or opportunity
Every EPK needs a short section that says what is happening now. Name the release, event, video, or campaign. Include the date, the format, and the simplest truthful explanation of why it matters. This is not a full press release. Think of it as the paragraph that helps someone decide whether to ask for more.
A useful release note might mention the project’s theme, the person you collaborated with, the city tied to an event, the story behind a visual, or a milestone that created the moment. Specificity makes the work easier to remember. A generic line about “bringing a new sound” does not tell a writer, promoter, or fan enough to work with.
For a release that is headed toward editorial coverage, use the music blog submission guide alongside your EPK. The submission is the message you send. The EPK is the dependable place you send them to for details.
6. Include practical details without clutter
Keep the facts a reader may need in one clean section. Depending on the situation, that can include your genre, city, performance format, release date, producer and featured-artist credits, social links, and official website. Use labels people can scan. When the details are not relevant, leave them out.
For example, a booking contact needs to know whether you perform with a band, DJ, tracks, or a stripped-down set. A feature writer may need correct spellings, a short background note, and the best interview contact. A promoter planning a release campaign may need your target date and approved imagery. The core kit stays the same, but the practical details should match the opportunity.
Keep your official links limited to the places that matter. Your site, primary music destination, social profile, and current video are usually enough. A long row of icons can make the next step less clear, especially on a phone.
7. Make contact simple and reliable
Put one direct contact method near the top and again at the end. That might be the artist, a manager, a publicist, or a booking contact. Use an email address that is checked regularly, and make sure the person listed is ready to reply. A press kit cannot create an opportunity by itself, but it should never be the reason an interested person cannot reach you.
Include a short line explaining what the contact is for when that helps. “Interview and feature requests” is more useful than a vague contact link. If you work with a team, be clear about who handles what. That prevents a writer from sending an interview request to a booking inbox or a promoter from hunting through several pages for a reply.
8. Build it as one easy destination
Your EPK can be a simple page on your website, a well-organized cloud folder, or a short PDF when a specific outlet asks for one. A web page is usually easiest to keep current and simple to share. A PDF can be helpful as a companion, but do not make it so large that someone has to download it before they know whether the story is relevant.
Whatever format you choose, organize it in the same order every time: current story, short bio, main music or video link, approved visuals, key details, and contact. That rhythm helps a busy reader find the right piece quickly. It also makes updating the kit less stressful before your next release.
Think of the EPK as a working tool, not a graduation project. Review it before every campaign. Remove past dates, old releases, broken links, and images that no longer represent you. Your feature archive can also grow into a valuable part of the kit once you have coverage worth sharing.
Keep one master folder behind the EPK, even when the visitor only sees one clean page. Store your original high-resolution photos, square cover art, video stills, approved bio, and current release notes there. That gives you a dependable source when a publication asks for a different image size or a promoter needs the files on short notice.
File names matter more than they seem. Replace names like “final final 2” with clear labels such as “Artist-Name-Press-Photo-Portrait” and “Artist-Name-Single-Title-Cover-Art.” Small details signal that you are organized, and they make it much easier for someone else to credit your work correctly.
A five-minute EPK check before you send it
Before sharing your artist EPK, take five minutes to review it from the recipient’s point of view:
- Can someone tell who you are and what you are promoting in the first few seconds?
- Does the main music or video link open without a login, expired password, or missing file?
- Are the photos current, high quality, and approved for editorial use?
- Are release dates, collaborator names, and social links correct?
- Is there one clear email address or contact person for a fast reply?
- Does the page look clean and useful on a phone?
If any answer is no, fix it before you pitch. The goal is not to make every piece perfect. It is to remove the small obstacles that make a good opportunity harder to pursue.
How Dyme Squad Media can help
Dyme Squad Media helps artists turn meaningful work into a clearer public story. If your music, video, event, or personal milestone is ready for a thoughtful feature, start with the Get Featured form. For broader release and campaign support, explore music promotion services or music video promotion.
A good EPK will not replace the work behind your music. It gives the right people a clean, credible way to see that work and decide whether there is a fit. Keep it current, keep it honest, and make the next step easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an artist EPK?
An artist EPK, short for electronic press kit, is one organized page or folder that gives writers, promoters, venues, and potential partners the core information they need to understand and share your work.
What should be in a music press kit?
Include a short current bio, approved artist photos, a listening or viewing link, a clear release or performance story, key links, important dates, and one reliable contact method.
Should an EPK be a PDF or a web page?
Either can work. A simple web page is easy to update and share, while a short PDF can be useful when an outlet or event specifically asks for an attachment. The important part is that the information is current and easy to open on a phone.
How often should I update my artist EPK?
Review it before every release, event, feature pitch, or booking push. Replace old photos, outdated links, and past dates so the person opening it sees the version of your work you want represented now.
