Electronic Press Kit (EPK) Explained: What Goes in an Artist's EPK and How to Build One
What an electronic press kit is, what every artist EPK needs (bio, music, photos, press, contacts), how long each part should be and the mistakes that get pitches ignored.
An electronic press kit, or EPK, is one page that tells a writer, booker, curator or brand everything they need about an artist in a couple of minutes. Music to hear, photos to use, a bio to quote, and who to contact.
It is the link at the bottom of every pitch. A good one makes saying yes easy. A messy one, or a missing one, makes people move on to the next email.
What goes in an EPK
| Part | What to include | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Short bio | Who, where from, what it sounds like, one hook | 2–3 sentences |
| Long bio | The story, releases so far, highlights | A few short paragraphs |
| Music | The current single first, then two or three best tracks | 3–4 links or players |
| Video | Best music video and one live clip | 1–2 videos |
| Photos | High-resolution, landscape and portrait, credited | 4–6 images |
| Press and highlights | Best quotes with links, notable shows or playlists | A short list |
| Contacts | Management, booking, press, with emails | One block |
| Links | Streaming profiles and socials | One row of links |
Different readers want different parts. A writer wants the story and the music. A booker wants live video, past shows and the booking contact. A brand wants the audience. Put the most common needs at the top.
Writing the bio
The short bio gets copied straight into articles, so write it in the third person and make it quotable. Avoid empty claims like "genre-defying" or "unique sound". Be specific instead.
- Weak: "An exciting new artist with a fresh sound unlike anything else."
- Better: "A Lisbon-born producer mixing fado samples with club drums, whose debut single was written in a laundromat."
- Only include facts you can back up. Don't invent numbers, awards or quotes.
- Update it with every release. An old bio makes the whole kit look abandoned.
How to build one, step by step
- 1Choose the home: a page on the artist's website, a simple landing page builder, or a shared folder for photos plus a one-page document. A web page is easiest to share and update.
- 2Gather assets in one place: bios, photos with credits, links, press quotes.
- 3Lay it out with the current release at the top.
- 4Make photos downloadable in full resolution without a login.
- 5Check every link works and plays without signing in.
- 6Test it on a phone. Many people will open it from an email on their phone.
- 7Use one short address that you can paste anywhere; see url shorteners explained.
Mistakes that get EPKs ignored
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Music behind a download or login | Streaming links or players that work instantly |
| Low-resolution or cropped photos | Original high-resolution files |
| Five-year-old bio | Updated with every release |
| No contact email | A clear block with names and emails |
| Twenty tracks to choose from | The best three or four |
| Inflated or invented claims | Only real, checkable highlights |
Using the EPK in campaigns
The EPK goes at the bottom of every pitch: blogs, radio, playlists, bookers, brands. It also helps creators and pages you hire for promotion understand the artist before they make content. Tag the link per campaign with the tracking link builder so you can see who actually opened it.
If you promote artists with an AMZA Wingman, an up-to-date EPK is usually one of the first things to ask the artist for. It saves time on every pitch that follows. See music PR basics for where it fits in a press campaign.
FAQ
What is an EPK in music?+
An electronic press kit: one page or link with an artist's bio, music, photos, press highlights and contacts, used when pitching press, radio, bookers and brands.
Do I need a website for an EPK?+
No. A web page is easiest, but a simple landing page or a clean document with links and a photo folder also works if everything opens without a login.
How long should an artist bio be in an EPK?+
Include a short bio of two or three sentences for quoting and a longer one of a few paragraphs for people who want the full story.
What photos should be in an EPK?+
Four to six recent, high-resolution press photos in landscape and portrait, with the photographer credited.
Promote with a partner, not just a link.
AMZA promoters get a dedicated manager, approved content, live tracking and weekly payouts.