A complete EPK has six must-have sections: a headline, a short bio, music, upcoming shows, photos and contact details. Highlights, a long bio, video and a technical rider make the page stronger. Send the link once the six must-haves are done.
If you're new to press kits, start with what an EPK is.
The checklist at a glance
| Section | Must have | What to include |
|---|---|---|
| Headline | Yes | Artist name, genre, city |
| Short bio | Yes | Two to four sentences |
| Music | Yes | Two or three tracks or mixes, one tap away |
| Upcoming shows | Yes | Date, venue, city, ticket link |
| Photos | Yes | Two or three high-resolution press shots |
| Contact | Yes | Booking email, agent or manager |
| Highlights | Strongly advised | Support slots, festivals, radio, press quotes |
| Long bio | Strongly advised | 250 to 400 words for journalists |
| Video | Optional | One live clip, one music video |
| Technical rider | Optional | Gear list, stage plot, input list |
1. Headline
Name, genre and city on one line, like "Leeds indie four-piece" or "Amsterdam house DJ and producer." Bookers sort acts by genre and travel distance before anything else.
Skip slogans. "Pushing the boundaries of sound" gives a booker nothing.
2. Short bio
Two to four sentences covering your sound, one or two comparisons and your strongest credential. Promoters paste this paragraph straight into event listings and flyers, so write the version you want printed.
The artist bio guide has templates and examples for DJs, bands and singers.
3. Music
Pick two or three tracks and lead with the strongest, even an older one. DJs should add one recent mix of 45 to 60 minutes, ideally recorded live.
Link to each track directly, with cover art. A profile with 40 uploads makes the booker choose, and most won't bother. Check every link in a private browser window before you send the EPK anywhere.
4. Upcoming shows
Dates, venues, cities and ticket links. Three or four confirmed shows tell a promoter other people already book you.
Nothing booked yet? Put your last few notable gigs under highlights and leave the calendar off until you have dates. An empty calendar hurts more than a missing one.
5. Photos
Two or three press shots:
- A landscape image for web banners and event pages.
- A portrait for posters and social posts.
- A live shot, if you have a good one.
Make each file at least 2000 pixels on the short edge, with your artist name and the photographer's credit in the filename.
6. Contact
One booking email, at the top of the page and again at the bottom, plus your agent or manager with their role. Use an address you check daily. Promoters move on fast when a hold sits unanswered.
7. Highlights
The facts a booker will check: support slots for known acts, festival appearances, radio plays, chart positions, playlist adds, press quotes. Five strong lines beat fifteen weak ones.
Credit every press quote with the outlet name and a link to the article. An unattributed quote carries no weight.
8. Long bio
Journalists and festival programmers want more than a booker does. Write 250 to 400 words on how you started, your releases, key shows and what's next, below the short bio or behind a "read more" link.
9. Video, rider and extras
If you play live, add one live clip. A promoter who sees a full room on video worries less about your draw.
Bands need a technical rider and a stage plot. DJs should list their preferred setup, for example CDJ-3000s and a DJM-A9. Venues read these before they confirm.
Before you send
- Open the EPK on your phone, since most promoters read your email there first.
- Press play on every track and click every link, social profiles included.
- Check the dates on your gig calendar.
- Send the link to a friend and ask what genre they think you play.
Build your EPK from this checklist
Artist Kit gives you an EPK page at artistkit.co/yourname with bio, music, gigs and contact sections already in place. Fill them in and share one link. The EPK template shows the full layout.