Creating an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) That Opens Doors

What Is an EPK and Why Do You Need One?

An Electronic Press Kit (EPK) is your professional portfolio as a musician. It is a single page or document that contains everything a journalist, playlist curator, booking agent, label, or sync supervisor needs to know about you. Think of it as your musical CV combined with a media kit.

When you pitch your music to anyone in the industry, the first thing they do after listening is research you. Your EPK should be the first thing they find, and it should answer every question they might have in under 60 seconds.

Essential EPK Components

1. Artist Bio

Write two versions:

• Short bio (100-150 words): Used in emails, social media, and quick reference. Covers who you are, your genre, your most notable achievements, and what makes you unique.
• Long bio (400-600 words): Used in press features and detailed pitches. Tells your story -- how you started, your creative evolution, notable releases, press coverage, and future plans.

Write in the third person ("Artist Name is a London-based producer..."). Avoid superlatives and subjective claims like "the best" or "groundbreaking." Let your achievements speak for themselves.

2. Music

Include your best 3-5 tracks with embedded players or streaming links. Lead with your strongest material, not your newest. If you have unreleased music you are pitching, include private SoundCloud links alongside your released catalogue.

3. Photos

Provide at least 3-5 professional photos:

• Landscape (horizontal) for website headers and blog features
• Portrait (vertical) for social media and magazine layouts
• Square for Spotify, Apple Music, and social profiles
• Live performance shots (if available)

Minimum resolution: 300 DPI for print, 72 DPI for web. Provide both. Name files clearly: "ArtistName_Press_Photo_1_Landscape.jpg"

4. Press Quotes and Coverage

If you have any press coverage, include the best quotes:

• "A stunning debut that announces a major new talent." - The Line of Best Fit
• "Euphoric production with a rare emotional depth." - DJ Mag

If you have no press coverage yet, skip this section rather than making quotes up. Everyone starts somewhere.

5. Stats and Social Proof

Include relevant numbers:

• Spotify monthly listeners and total streams
• Social media followers (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube)
• Notable playlist placements
• Radio play
• Sync placements
• Live performance highlights (festivals, headline shows, support slots)

6. Music Videos and Visual Content

Embed or link your music videos, visualizers, and any notable video content. Visual content makes your EPK more engaging and gives journalists and bloggers assets to include in their coverage.

7. Release Information

For upcoming releases, include:

• Track title and release date
• Artwork
• A paragraph about the release (story, inspiration, collaborators)
• Available formats (single, EP, album)
• Label (if any) or "Self-released"

8. Contact Information

• Email (dedicated press/booking email if possible)
• Management contact (if applicable)
• Social media links
• Website URL

EPK Formats

Web-Based EPK (Recommended)

A dedicated page on your website or a service like PitchSonic's EPK builder. Web-based EPKs are always up to date, load quickly, and can embed streaming players. They also let you track who views your EPK and how long they spend on each section.

PDF EPK

A designed PDF is useful for email attachments when someone specifically requests a press kit. Keep it under 3 pages. Include QR codes linking to your music and videos since embedded media does not work in PDFs.

Common EPK Mistakes

• Too much information: An EPK is not your autobiography. Be concise. If someone wants more detail, they will ask.
• Outdated information: Update your EPK with every release, every notable achievement, and every new photo. An EPK from 2 years ago signals inactivity.
• Low-quality photos: Blurry phone photos destroy credibility. Invest in one professional photo shoot -- it will serve you for 1-2 years of press and promotion.
• No music: This sounds obvious, but some EPKs bury the music under paragraphs of text. Your music should be the first thing a visitor encounters after your name and photo.
• Missing contact info: If someone wants to feature you and cannot find your email, you have lost the opportunity.

Using Your EPK

Include your EPK link in:

• Every press pitch you send
• Every curator submission
• Every sync pitch
• Your social media bios
• Your email signature
• Your Spotify for Artists "Artist's Pick" section

PitchSonic includes a built-in EPK builder that automatically integrates with your tracks, artwork, and streaming stats. Sign up free to create your professional EPK in minutes.