How to Create an Electronic Press Kit (EPK)

Before you start building, collect everything you'll need. This includes your best 3-5 tracks (streaming links or high-quality audio files), 5-8 professional photos in both landscape and portrait orientations, any press coverage or reviews you've received, notable performance history, and your social media and streaming platform links. Having everything organized in one folder before you begin saves hours of back-and-forth later. Create subfolders for audio, photos, press clippings, and documents.

Your bio is often the first thing people read, so it needs to hook them immediately. Write three versions: a one-sentence tagline for quick pitches, a short paragraph (75-100 words) for social media and playlist submissions, and a full bio (250-400 words) for press and booking inquiries. Lead with your most impressive achievement or a vivid description of your sound. Avoid cliches like "genre-bending" or "unlike anything you've heard." Instead, reference specific influences and describe your music in concrete terms. Write in third person and include your origin story, musical journey, and what you're working on now.

You need at minimum three types of photos: a primary promotional headshot or portrait, a full-band or full-body shot, and at least two live performance shots. All images should be high resolution (minimum 300 DPI for print, 2000px wide for web) and professionally shot if possible. Ensure photos match your brand aesthetic and are consistent in tone. Include both color and black-and-white versions. Name files clearly with your artist name and image description for easy identification by editors and designers.

Select your 3-5 strongest tracks that represent your current sound. Include streaming links from major platforms rather than raw audio files, as these are easier for reviewers to access. If you have music videos, include links to those as well. Embed players where possible rather than requiring downloads. Order your tracks strategically with your catchiest or most representative song first, since many reviewers only listen to the first 30-60 seconds of the first track before deciding whether to continue.

List your most notable accomplishments: streaming numbers, playlist placements, press features, awards, festival appearances, and notable venues played. Be specific with numbers when they're impressive. Include pull quotes from reviews or interviews, with publication names and dates. If you've opened for well-known acts, toured specific regions, or reached streaming milestones, highlight these prominently. For emerging artists with limited press, include blog features, college radio play, or local publication mentions.

Make it effortless for people to reach the right person. Include separate contact details for booking inquiries, press and media inquiries, and management (if applicable). List email addresses that are checked regularly. Include your website URL, all active social media handles, and streaming platform links. If you have a booking agent or publicist, list their information with proper titles. Never make someone hunt for how to contact you; place this information prominently on the first and last pages.

Your EPK's visual design should reflect your artistic brand. Use a clean, readable layout with consistent fonts and colors that match your album artwork or visual identity. Avoid cluttered designs with too many fonts or competing elements. White space is your friend. Structure the layout in a logical flow: header with artist name and photo, bio, music links, achievements, press quotes, photos, and contact information. Export as both a PDF for email attachments and create a web-hosted version for easy sharing.

Host your EPK on your website with a clean URL like yourname.com/press or yourname.com/epk. Send personalized emails to contacts with your EPK attached or linked, never mass-blasted. Tailor your cover email to each recipient, explaining why you're reaching out and what you're hoping for specifically. Update your EPK quarterly or whenever you have significant new achievements, releases, or photos. Keep a log of who you've sent it to and follow up within 7-10 days if you haven't heard back.