An Electronic Press Kit, or EPK, is one of the most important pieces of promotional material you can make for your music. Learn what an Electronic Press Kit is, what goes into it, and why you need one as a musician.
An Electronic Press Kit, or EPK, is one of the most important pieces of promotional material you can make for your music. The days of handing mixtapes out on the street, shipping costly vinyl records and merchandise, and fussing with physical mail addresses are long over. An EPK is like a professional resume as it can attract opportunities and display your qualifications - all from the convenience of the world wide web. Learn what an Electronic Press Kit is, what goes into it, and why you need one as a musician.
What is an Electronic Press Kit?
An Electronic Press Kit (EPK) is a digital press kit that musicians can use to promote themselves and their music to labels, agents, clients, music supervisors, buyers, and the media. The Kit houses essential information that helps others grasp a musician’s story, style, and brand all in one place. An EPK is low cost and acts like a resume that contains links to songs and works, photos, music videos, album art, social media, and a biography. Think of an EPK like you would an elevator pitch. It highlights your best work in a concise and clean manner, and can open the door to a number of potential opportunities.
Why You Need an Electronic Press Kit
EPKs have become so popular that they have become an expectation within the music industry. Put simply, if you are a dedicated, high quality act, then you likely have an EPK. If you cross paths with an industry professional, it’s good practice to have an EPK ready.
What goes into an Electronic Press Kit?
It’s important to remember that like resumes, EPKs should be short, concise, and well designed to show off your dedicated self in the best possible way. Electronic Press Kits are often altered slightly to cater to specific audiences (i.e. labels, venues, managers, etc). However, we’ll share the absolute essentials and must-haves as you put together or update your EPK. An Electronic Press Kit should consist of the following:
- A Biography or a brief ‘About Me’
- Your best 2-3 songs or tracks
- High quality photos of yourself (or your logo if anonymity is part of your brand)
- Your Social Media handles
- Music Videos
- Testimonials and/or song credentials
The BeatStars Pro Page as an Electronic Press Kit
If you’re a BeatStars Pro Page member (or considering the Pro Page Plan), then you’re in luck. The Pro Page is a customizable website that can act as your Electronic Press Kit. Your customized Pro Page supports all of the things you’d need within an Electronic Press Kit, including:
☑ An ‘About’ section
☑ An area for ‘Credits’ or ‘Testimonials’
☑ Your songs, albums, or services you offer
☑ An area to put your social handles and contact information
☑ A section to display your music videos
☑ An area to display photos
☑ A music player (Blaze Player)
☑ Contact Form
You can customize your Pro Page completely from scratch, or invest in a pre-built layout. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, check out a few Pro Page layouts that we’ve deemed ‘Grade A’.
If you aren’t yet a Pro Page member, you can see what you’re missing with code BLOG30 at checkout for a free 30 day trial.
Other Important Things to Remember
As you’re going about making your EPK, it’s vital that you remember the following:
Keep your EPK simple and to the point
If you aren’t the best writer or designer, consider hiring a professional! There are several BeatStars Members that offer services like design and copywriting that will do the heavy lifting for you.
Ensure your EPK represents you and your music accurately
Make use of your brand’s colors, tone of voice, and style to accurately represent yourself in your press kit
Avoid sending huge files or ZIP files via email
When you’re ready to send out your EPK, link to your website (HELLLOOOO BeatStars Pro Page!) that houses your EPK. Huge files can be flagged and sent to spam folders. Zip files simply won’t get opened.
Build out your Press Kit with the Pro Page.
Build out your Press Kit with the Pro Page.
