The Ultimate Guide For Marketing New Music Part 1: Press Kit
EPK: Electronic Press Kit
The music industry is saturated with artist competition. If you don’t go about it the right way, getting the interest of record companies, agencies, promoters, venues, and other media sources may be next to impossible. What you need is an electronic press kit, and this press kit guide to help you get there.
This guide presents expert tips on how to put together a compelling electronic press kit also known as an ‘EPK’.
What Is An EPK and Why Follow A Press Kit Guide?
An EPK, or an Electronic Press Kit, serves as a professional music CV. It is your online media and music marketing portfolio, with easy access to your most important data.
An EPK functions as a one-stop shop where potential employers can get all the information they want without having to search or inquire. It should include specialized details and materials for event planners, promoters, journalists, bloggers, and other business professionals—materials that you would not want the general public to view or have access to.
Why Do You Need An EPK?
You’ll place yourself in the best possible position to pitch your tracks, gain press attention, secure gigs, and perhaps even draw the attention of a manager or label executive with a solid EPK.
9 Important Things To Include In Your EPK According To The Press Kit Guide
Your artistic identity should be reflected in your music EPK’s style and the content you select. Keep in mind that people who visit the page for your press kit are frequently managers, venues, music critics, or promoters.
You’ll want to say as much essential information as you can in a clear, coherent manner.
Biography
When composing a musician bio for this part of your press kit, remember your objective. Talk about your music particularly rather than the highlights of your live performances.
- The first paragraph should include a quick overview of your professional background.
- The second paragraph should focus on any new music. Discuss your style and the sources of inspiration for the piece while including any other information you feel is important. Awards for songwriting, prior success, or a strong Spotify stream count might all be used.
Links To Your Best Music
To enable rapid and simple listening to your music without the need to first download it, it is recommended to include links from streaming services in the form of a music player in today’s streaming environment.
Make sure the first few tracks in your music EPK are among your finest when deciding which songs to add.
High-Quality Music Videos
Pick one or two videos that are essential to your new music (the official video for your single, a live version, or a music video containing scenes from the recording of your album) and add them to your page. You don’t want to overcrowd the page with videos.
Social Media Links
It’s a wise idea to connect to your website and social media accounts since it will provide the media access to more details and give them a sense of your online impact and audience. Your chances of getting a booking might increase if you have a large social media following and active followers.
High-Quality Images
Utilize images from a reputable photoshoot. Consider booking a photoshoot if you haven’t already. It will benefit your brand awareness.
Additionally, a few pictures from your gigs would be fantastic. More so if they accurately reflect the “mood” of your music and performing style.
We advise having both horizontal and vertical images. Giving your promoters alternatives will be helpful if they require a picture to suit a particularly specific arrangement on their poster, article, or website.
Include your album cover art and logo as well, if available.
Reviews, Interviews, And Press Features
These are things that you want to highlight to let the people know that your music has already been covered and praised in the media.
Performance Calendar
Make sure you’re presenting an updated calendar with essential show details. They’ll aid the promotion in understanding your work hours. Booking agents can more easily work with your existing schedule by knowing about upcoming concerts, tours, or performances.
You never know who could attend your upcoming performance and alter your musical career!
Notable Highlights, Awards, Plaques & Achievements
Identify your musical high points and make sure they are all included in your electronic press kit. A wonderful technique to give additional context regarding the buzz surrounding you as an artist is to include some of your noteworthy career milestones in music.
- Have you ever toured with any well-known artists?
- Any live performances at any renowned locations or festivals?
- Received any honorable awards?
- Have your Spotify streaming stats reached any milestones?
- Featured on any significant radio stations?
Contact Info
Allow them a simple way to get in touch with you, such as an email address or a contact form. Provide your own email address if you are self-managed or your team member’s job titles and contact details if applicable.
Keep all of your contact details in one place in your EPK, and let visitors know about any special choices available. For instance, tell them who to contact if they want a full copy of your record.
Best Practices While Creating An EPK
Each day, talent buyers and promoters evaluate hundreds of potential acts. Presenting yourself clearly and professionally is crucial. Think about the following best practices while preparing your press kit:
- Keep your EPK concise and easy to understand.
- Include your most outstanding work and valuable info.
- Update your EPK frequently.
- Ensure your EPK appropriately portrays your brand.
- Make a unique EPK stand out from the crowd.
- When attaching files to emails, be cautious to take into account their size.
- Avoid sending .zip files and other compressed file attachments with emails.
- Bring a printed copy of your EPK to events.
How To Create An EPK?
After gathering all of your resources, you should concentrate on layout and design. The design will play just as much of a role in your EPK’s ability to convey a clear and concise narrative regarding who you are as an artist as will each piece of material.
Try to give the website a uniform appearance by using a simple font and leaving adequate space between each piece. Make sure the information and graphics are organized so they are simple to scan.
There are several services available that will host your EPK, but bear in mind that you’ll be constrained by the templates they offer. We advise creating an EPK page directly on your website to give you the greatest control over how you come across.
Final Thoughts
Your EPK can indeed be your sole chance to make a good first impression, depending on the circumstances. Because of this, it’s worthwhile to invest the time upfront to create something you’ll be glad to share that portrays you in the best light possible.
You may make a strong impression as a professional musician who takes pride in work by having an up-to-date, high-quality EPK.
It is worthwhile to invest the time upfront to create something you’ll be glad to share that portrays you in the best light possible. MPT Agency will guide you to the creation of your EPK which will make a good first impression in the music industry. To find out what other services can enhance your musical career, make sure you check our blog regularly and follow us on Instagram for more music marketing-related updates.
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