{"id":3553,"date":"2021-10-05T18:02:55","date_gmt":"2021-10-05T18:02:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/"},"modified":"2021-10-05T18:02:55","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T18:02:55","slug":"the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/","title":{"rendered":"The Indie Musician\u2019s Guide to Electronic Press Kits (EPKs)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Making your own music is a true labor of love. You can pour your heart and soul into crafting the melodies and getting the words just right. Having your songs come to life is an unforgettable experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">You might create music for the love of it, but most artists also want fans to hear their music. Whether you\u2019re taking on the role of publicist and promoter for your new album, or you\u2019re looking to book a tour for your band, an electronic press kit (EPK) is a must-have for any musician \u2014 and especially an indie musician \u2014 trying to grow their career.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/#What_is_an_EPK_for_musicians\" >What is an EPK for musicians?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/#Why_does_a_musician_need_an_EPK\" >Why does a musician need an EPK?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/#How_to_make_an_EPK_for_your_music\" >How to make an EPK for your music<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/#What_do_I_need_for_my_EPK\" >What do I need for my EPK?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/#1_Your_artist_bio\" >1. Your artist bio<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/#2_Photos_for_promotion\" >2. Photos for promotion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/#3_Music\" >3. Music<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/#4_Album_information\" >4. Album information<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/#5_Video\" >5. Video<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/#6_Press\" >6. Press<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/#7_Social_and_streaming_links\" >7. Social and streaming links<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/#8_Downloadable_files_for_more_information\" >8. Downloadable files for more information<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/the-indie-musicians-guide-to-electronic-press-kits-epks\/#9_Contact_information\" >9. Contact information<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_an_EPK_for_musicians\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\">What is an EPK for musicians?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">An electronic press kit is an essential tool for musicians. EPKs communicate all of the important information that festivals, industry and media need to cover your music. It typically contains media assets that summarize your career to date. This includes an artist bio, promotional photos, music, video, press quotes and more. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_does_a_musician_need_an_EPK\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\">Why does a musician need an EPK?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Excellent music will set you apart from the crowd. But your EPK will help you take that music out into the world in an organized and professional manner. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">If you\u2019re planning press outreach for a new album or single, you\u2019ll want an up-to-date EPK in hand. When you or someone on your team sends a pitch email to a press outlet, everything necessary to promote your music is contained on the page.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">An EPK is also handy when you contact venues, booking agents or talent buyers. It\u2019s a quick and concise introduction to your music, and will show that you\u2019re not only well-prepared, but also a good match for a specific venue. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_make_an_EPK_for_your_music\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\">How to make an EPK for your music<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The best thing to do is <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-promotion\/music-websites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"s2\">make a music website<\/span><\/a> and host your EPK there. This means you\u2019ll have a simple URL to share if someone asks for your bio, wants to share a video, or needs to listen to your latest release. You can also use these assets to create a downloadable folder that lives on a file sharing service, such as Dropbox or Google Drive, and link or share that URL. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Now that you know why you need an EPK, what should you <a href=\"https:\/\/bandzoogle.com\/blog\/the-8-things-that-should-be-in-every-band-s-digital-press-kit?pc=diymusicianblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"s2\">include in your band\u2019s digital press kit<\/span><\/a>?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_I_need_for_my_EPK\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\">What do I need for my EPK?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Your_artist_bio\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\"><b>1. Your artist bio<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Your band bio is the perfect way to make a first impression in your EPK. Include a long and short bio, since different press outlets and promoters might have different needs and word counts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">To help you craft this bio, imagine it being used to introduce you out loud at a showcase, or on a podcast. It might also appear on a venue website, in a music review or a brochure. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Kick off your musician bio with a recent press quote, mention your music and then add a recent notable show or career highlight to round it out. Make sure you write it the way you want it to be received; this is your chance to create a compelling narrative that illustrates who you are as a musician.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Photos_for_promotion\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\"><b>2. Photos for promotion<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Add a few high-resolution images to your press kit. These <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-promotion\/musician-photo-shoot-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">artist photos<\/a> should be tailored to whatever your goal is. If you are trying to book shows, use good quality live shots. If you are promoting upcoming music, include some posed promo shots as well as your album cover or single artwork.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Make sure to include a variety of sizes that will work across all avenues. You\u2019ll need horizontal, vertical, and easily cropped to square images.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Music\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\"><b>3. Music<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Whether you\u2019re creating an online r\u00e9sum\u00e9 for your career, or actively promoting an upcoming release, you\u2019ll want to carefully consider the music that you add to your EPK.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Add your <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-career\/7-singles-to-release\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"s2\">new single<\/span><\/a> or songs from your <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/releasing-music\/how-to-release-an-album-so-people-actually-want-to-buy-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">recent album<\/a>, if your goal is to garner press for this release. If you\u2019re making a press kit to book shows, choose a mix of your best-known and well-received songs, and make them easy to stream in a music player right on your page. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The key to adding music to your EPK is that the titles are clear, and the songs are easy to listen to. Don\u2019t add too many tracks; make sure you curate your song choices on your EPK carefully, without inundating your target audience with too much music at once.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Don\u2019t want to have a free copy of your latest single floating around just yet? This is a case where password-protecting your EPK can come in handy. Otherwise, creating an EPK as a public facing page is a good way to be sure any promoter or talent buyer can access it quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Album_information\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\"><b>4. Album information<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">If you\u2019re promoting an upcoming album or a latest release, make it easy for a manager, blogger, or radio station to grab details (in text) from your EPK.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Add information about your music that\u2019s easy to copy and paste. You can include album credits or liner notes mentioning the songwriters and production team, and place lyrics into your music player for easy access.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Update this information as your promotion evolves as well. If your song was <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-promotion\/get-on-playlists\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">playlisted<\/a> and had success on streaming platforms, for example, add that info to help with future promotion.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Video\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\"><b>5. Video<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">It\u2019s common for a festival or venue to share a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-promotion\/how-to-make-a-live-zoom-call-video-that-your-fans-will-love\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">video<\/a> once they\u2019ve booked a band to help with selling tickets. By adding a video to your press kit, you\u2019re enhancing your brand by suggesting a video that best represents you and your music. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Choose a video that reflects your current goal for your EPK. A live video is perfect if you\u2019re booking shows, or showcasing your performances to date. If you\u2019ve got a video that accompanies your new single, put that on your EPK to help with album promotion.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Press\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\"><b>6. Press<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">There\u2019s no better way to add authenticity to your music than press quotes or music reviews. Update these as your career progresses to be sure that anyone accessing your EPK sees recent reviews that talk about the music you are making now. These reviews will help give a sense that your music has momentum, especially if you\u2019re promoting a release.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Add quotes from venue owners, music reviews and more. To be sure your EPK looks concise and remains easy to scan. Use one sentence and then link out to a full review. As you get new press, swap in the most relevant quotes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Social_and_streaming_links\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\"><b>7. Social and streaming links<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Your social and streaming links will paint a fuller picture of your artist brand and your music. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">If a press outlet is developing a story about your new album, a view into your online presence across all channels will help them understand you better. A venue or booking agent, for example, may be interested to see if you regularly promote shows and get good engagement. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Add the links only to platforms where you\u2019re active, and show that you built up your social media presence in a professional way.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Downloadable_files_for_more_information\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\"><b>8. Downloadable files for more information<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">To be sure your EPK is concise and easy to scan, consider adding additional files for download. This could include versions of your bio in PDF format, tracks in MP3 or WAV format, links to download extra promotional images, or a stage plot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">You could also create a downloadable version of your press kit, and add that as a file on your EPK for additional reference.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Contact_information\"><\/span><span class=\"s1\"><b>9. Contact information<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Finally, to be sure that you\u2019re easily reachable for further inquiries or follow-up details, add contact information to your EPK. This might just be your email address, and it might also include your manager, your publicist or anyone else who\u2019s working with you.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b><i>Create an EPK with Bandzoogle and get 15% off your first year, PLUS 2 free CD Baby Standard submissions with any annual plan! <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/bandzoogle.com\/features\/epk?pc=diymusicianblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"s2\"><b><i>Build your EPK now<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/a><b><i>.<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A digital press kit should contain everything about you on one page, and be easy to scan. If someone is interested in your music, they won\u2019t want to search across all of your social media channels to find out what they need. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Make it easy for people to hear your music and book your band by putting all of your media assets in one place. Update your EPK regularly, using it as a valuable tool in marketing your music.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-promotion\/electronic-press-kits-epks\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Indie Musician\u2019s Guide to Electronic Press Kits (EPKs)<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">DIY Musician<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Making your own music is a true labor of love. You can pour your heart and soul into crafting the melodies and getting the words just right. Having your songs come to life is an unforgettable experience. You might create music for the love of it, but most artists also want fans to hear their music. Whether you\u2019re taking on the role of publicist and promoter for your new album, or you\u2019re looking to book a tour for your band, an electronic press kit (EPK) is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-best-seo-blogs"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":false,"author_link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/author\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3553"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3553\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3553"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}