How to Create an EPK

An electronic press kit (EPK) is a single page or document containing your bio, photos, music, video, stats, and contact info. It is the first thing venue bookers, journalists, festival programmers, and sync supervisors look at when evaluating you. Most EPKs fail because they include everything the artist wants to say rather than everything the recipient needs to know.

An EPK is not a fan page, not your website, and not your social media presence. It is a professional document built for a specific audience: people who decide whether to book you, cover you, or license your music. Those people are busy, they receive dozens of EPKs a week, and they will spend 30 to 60 seconds on yours before deciding whether to keep reading.

That means your EPK needs to answer their questions fast, in their order of priority, with no friction. This article covers how to build each section, what format to use, and how to customize your EPK for different recipients. For how your EPK fits into your broader brand identity, see How to Brand Yourself as an Artist.

The Six Required Components

1. Artist Bio

Two versions: a short bio (75 to 150 words) and a full bio (250 to 500 words). The short version goes at the top of the EPK. The full version is available on your website or as a separate attachment.

Write in third person. Journalists and bookers will copy your bio directly into their event listings, articles, and show announcements. If it is written in first person, they have to rewrite it. Most will not bother.

Lead with what the music sounds like, not your name. "Chicago producer making sample-heavy beats between J Dilla and Burial" tells the reader what to expect in 10 words. "Jane Smith is a Chicago-based artist" tells them nothing.

2. Press Photos

You need at least three high-resolution photos in different compositions.

All photos should reflect your current visual identity. If your branding has changed since the photos were taken, reshoot before sending. Press outlets need printable quality. Phone photos, selfies, and low-resolution images signal that you are not ready for professional coverage.

Make your photos downloadable. Link to a cloud folder (Google Drive, Dropbox) with full-resolution versions so press and bookers can grab what they need without emailing you for files.

3. Music

Include streaming links to your 2 to 3 strongest tracks, not your entire catalog. The recipient will listen to the first 15 to 30 seconds of the first track, so make those seconds count.

For sync supervisors and labels, include private links to unreleased material. For press pitches around a specific release, link to that release specifically. For booking, link to your most representative tracks.

4. Video

At least one video, ideally two: a music video or visualizer and a live performance clip. Booking agents and talent buyers need to see what you look like on stage. Press and blogs care about the music video.

Embed the video directly if your EPK is web-based. If it is a PDF or document, link to the video with a clear label so the recipient does not have to leave the page to find it.

5. Stats and Social Proof

Include numbers and press mentions only when they are meaningful. "500 Spotify streams" is not social proof. "50K monthly listeners, featured on Spotify's Fresh Finds, and covered by Pigeons & Planes" tells a story.

What to include if you have it: Monthly listener count, notable playlist placements, press mentions with publication names, notable shows or festival appearances, sync placements, awards. Keep it to a short list, not a comprehensive resume.

What to include if you are early career: Skip the stats section entirely rather than padding it with unimpressive numbers. Let the music and bio carry the EPK. An honest EPK with no stats is more credible than one stretching to make 500 followers sound significant.

6. Contact Information

Name, email, phone number, and role (artist, manager, booking agent). If you have a team, list the right contact for each inquiry type: booking, press, management, sync. Make it easy for the recipient to reach the right person on the first try.

What Different Recipients Need

Not everyone reads an EPK for the same reason. The components are the same, but the emphasis shifts.

When pitching, lead with what the specific recipient cares about. A generic EPK sent to everyone is better than nothing but worse than one tailored to the recipient's priorities.

Format: Website Page vs PDF vs Hosted EPK

Three common formats. Each has trade-offs.

The strongest approach is a website page as your default plus a PDF or doc version you customize for specific pitches. The website stays current for anyone who finds you. The customized version lets you emphasize different sections for different recipients.

For a comparison of EPK builder tools, see Press Kit Builders for Artists Compared.

Keeping Your EPK Current

An outdated EPK is worse than no EPK. If your most recent press mention is from 2024 and your photos show a different visual era, the recipient will question whether you are still active.

Update with every significant release. New tracks, new photos, new stats, new press mentions. The bio should always reference your current project.

Audit quarterly. Block 30 minutes every three months to review every section. Remove anything outdated. Add anything new. Verify that all links work and all downloads are accessible.

Keep a master folder. One cloud folder with your current bio (all versions), high-res photos, music links, video links, stats, and contact info. When someone asks for your EPK at an inconvenient time, you can send the folder link in 30 seconds.

For how to use your EPK in press outreach, see Music Blog Outreach: Getting Coverage for Your Release. For sync-specific EPK considerations, see How to Get Your Music in TV, Film, and Ads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an EPK as an independent artist?

Yes. Anyone pitching for press, booking shows, submitting to playlists, or pursuing sync needs a professional way to present their work. An EPK does not require a budget. A clean website page or Google Doc works.

How often should I update my EPK?

With every significant release and at minimum quarterly. Outdated information signals inactivity. Verify links, refresh stats, and update your bio to reflect your current project.

Should my EPK include streaming numbers?

Only if they are impressive in context. 50K monthly listeners is worth including. 500 is not. Early-career artists should let the music and bio carry the EPK rather than highlighting low numbers.

Read Next:

• How to Brand Yourself as an Artist

• Press Kit Builders for Artists Compared

• Music Blog Outreach: Getting Coverage for Your Release

Your EPK, Always Ready:

An EPK is only useful if it is current. Orphiq helps you keep your release assets, bios, and stats organized so your press kit is never out of date when an opportunity arrives.