Artist press kit
Quick Answer
A usable press kit (EPK) is one link with a short bio, high-res photos, key links (music, site, social), notable credits, and contact. Lead pitches with a specific hook and a 50–100 word blurb — not a 20 MB ZIP of unorganized files.
What Busy Editors Actually Open
Bloggers, playlist curators, college radio, and local press skim. If your kit takes two minutes to understand who you are and why this week matters, you are already ahead of most attachments named FINAL_v7.zip.
Keep the kit online (site page or simple Notion/Google Doc with stable permissions) and update dates. Pair outreach discipline with owned email so press is not your only channel.
EPK Contents Checklist
- One-sentence positioning Genre + city + what is different.
- 50-word bio For listings and social paste.
- 150–250 word bio For features; third person usually.
- Photos High-res, well-lit, named files; include vertical for mobile.
- Music links 2–3 best tracks, not entire discography dump.
- Credits / notable facts Syncs, supporting tours, charting, press quotes with sources.
- Contact Booking/press email that you actually read.
- Optional tech rider Only when booking live; keep separate if long.
Bio Writing Rules
- Start with present identity
Who you are now, not childhood piano year one. - Add proof early
A concrete credit beats five adjectives. - Name the sound
Reference touchstones sparingly; avoid empty “unique vibes.” - End with now
Current single/tour/EP and where to listen. - Cut filler
Delete “passionate,” “innovative,” and movie-trailer adjectives without evidence.
Pitch Email Structure
| Part | Length | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | ≤8 words | Specific release + city/genre |
| Hook line | 1–2 sentences | Why this outlet / why this week |
| Proof | 1–3 bullets | Credits, press, numbers if real |
| Links | 3 max | EPK, best track, live date |
| Close | 1 line | Thanks + contact |
Personalize one sentence that proves you read the outlet. Mass BCC pitches with no local angle land in spam folders socially even when they deliver technically.
Common Mistakes
- Novel-length bio Nobody finishes it on mobile.
- Broken photo links Instant delete.
- Only Spotify link, no story No reason to cover you vs ten others.
- Lying about numbers Burns trust forever when checked.
Build the product behind the press kit with free verified sounds on Plugg Supply.
Learning path
Related answer hubs
Frequently Asked Questions
- What should be in a music press kit?
- Short and long bios, photos, best music links, notable credits or quotes, and a clear contact — ideally one online page that always works.
- How long should an artist bio be?
- Keep a 50-word blurb and a 150–250 word version. Longer essays belong on your site, not the first pitch.
- Do I need a PDF EPK?
- A stable web page is usually better. PDFs go stale and age poorly on phones. Offer downloadable photos separately.
- How do I pitch blogs without being annoying?
- Target relevant outlets, personalize one line, send one follow-up max, and make the music link obvious.
- Should I include streaming numbers?
- Only if they are real and impressive for that outlet’s scale. Prefer qualitative proof when numbers are small.
- What photos work best?
- Sharp, well-lit images that match your branding, with room to crop for headers. Avoid only dark live shots.