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Your electronic press kit (EPK) is your professional music resume that promoters, venue talent buyers, journalists, and music supervisors use to understand who you are as an artist, what you bring to the table, and ultimately why they should care about you. As such, the smallest details may make or break you, and in this competitive environment, crafting the perfect EPK is critical to your success in making connections and scoring gigs.
What is an EPK?
Simply put, an EPK is a custom portfolio created for each musician that showcases who you are, what your background is, and why you are the best fit for a particular situation. From collecting press clips (e.g. concert listings, music-related news stories, and festival lineups) to posting up-to-date updates on social media, this self-contained, mobile-friendly file can help your project stand out from the crowd and engage with audiences you otherwise might not have had the opportunity to reach. When Should You Create an EPK? If you are a solo artist without a band or with a band that plays smaller gigs on the weekends, this is generally when you want to start collecting press clippings.
What does an EPK include?
An EPK is composed of multiple document types that you can download onto any computer, tablet or smartphone. For example, your EPK may include one of the following documents: CDs of recorded songs Compilations of your original songs Digital playlists with your favorite songs on them Featuring you in the same creative environment as your favorite artists and producers You may also include the following additional documents: Downloadable videos Blog posts Facebook posts Videos on YouTube Recordings of you talking about your music or life A chronological collection of every social media channel you have worked with in the past, especially if it has proven to be successful What’s involved in creating an EPK?
When should I send my EPK to someone?
Once you've been on the scene for a while and have started generating some buzz, there is nothing wrong with sending your EPK to your local A&R reps (artists and record label/label reps). You can also consider pitching this as a round-up for tastemakers and bloggers that are spreading the gospel of your music. It's also a good idea to send your EPK to certain venue talent buyers, if you think your music would be a great fit. Finally, if you have multiple upcoming gigs and want them to be well-stocked with EPKs from each show, consider organizing a mailing list and mailing these EPKs to promoters at each show. Do I need to send my EPK to everyone?
How do I create an EPK?
An EPK is an easy-to-follow guide to the records and services you offer. It covers your relevant credits (often in the form of credits from other music platforms), the contact details you'd like to share, as well as links to clips and live clips that highlight your uniqueness. The EPK also serves as an open marketing tool that enables you to showcase your musical talents in the most direct manner possible to your potential industry contacts. Why is an EPK important? The EPK allows you to build a professional profi