An electronic press kit, or EPK, is one web page that holds everything a booker needs to say yes. It puts your bio, music, photos, video, press, show dates, and contact in a single link.
Think of it as your press kit that lives online. You send one link instead of a folder of files.
It works whether you are a solo artist, a band, a DJ, or a producer. This guide covers what goes in an EPK, what a good one looks like, and how to build yours.
What Is An EPK (Electronic Press Kit)?
EPK stands for electronic press kit. It is a digital version of the paper press kits that artists used to mail to venues and labels.
An EPK is not a PDF you attach to an email. The best ones are a single web page you share with one link.
A live page beats a PDF for one big reason: you can update a show date or swap a track in seconds, with no re-sending. A PDF is out of date the moment your next single drops.
A link also has no file-size limit. Your music and video play right on the page instead of arriving as heavy attachments that clog an inbox.
Who reads it? Booking agents, venue talent buyers, promoters, festival programmers, labels, and music writers.
Each one is checking something different. An agent wants to know if you can draw a crowd. A label wants to see if you are growing. A writer wants a story worth covering.
And yes, they still expect one. A clean EPK is often the first thing a booker asks for after they hear your name.
EPK Vs Press Kit Vs Media Kit Vs One-Sheet
These words get mixed up a lot. Here is the plain version.
A press kit is the general term for the info a press or booking contact needs. An electronic press kit (EPK) is that same thing, built as a web page.
A media kit is usually aimed at sponsors or advertisers, so it leans on audience size and reach. A one-sheet is a single page, often a PDF, that sums up your act at a glance.
| Term | What It Is | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| EPK | Your press kit as a web page | Booking, press, labels |
| Press kit | General term for your press info | Same as an EPK |
| Media kit | Reach and audience numbers | Sponsors, advertisers |
| One-sheet | One-page summary, often a PDF | Quick pitch, festival forms |
In practice, send your EPK link for most booking and press. Keep a one-page PDF ready too, because some festival and grant forms still ask you to upload a file.
Only reach for a media kit when a brand or sponsor asks about your audience. For everyone else, the EPK link is enough.
What To Include In An EPK (The 8 Essentials)
A strong EPK covers eight things. Keep each one short and easy to scan.
1. Your Bio (Short And Long)
Write two versions. A short bio of about 100 words for quick reads, and a longer one of 300 to 500 words for press.
Write it in the third person, the way a writer would quote you. Include your name, your genre, your city, one standout achievement, and what you have out now.
Open with your strongest line: a big show, a real number, or a one-sentence hook. Cut filler like "passionate about music," which tells a booker nothing.
2. Press Photos
Add two or three high-quality photos, at least 1500 pixels wide, or 300 DPI for print use.
Use recent photos, taken within the last year, so you look like you do now. Keep a similar style across them so the kit looks put together.
Offer one wide shot and one tall shot, since posters and articles need different shapes. Credit the photographer under each one, and make them easy to download.
3. Music
Embed your best two or three tracks so they play right on the page. Use Spotify, SoundCloud, or Bandcamp.
Do not make a booker leave the page to hear you. If they have to click away, many will not come back.
Lead with the song that best fits the gigs you want, not your newest one. If a track has strong streaming numbers, use that one first.
4. Video
Add one live performance video, and keep it short, around three to four minutes. A booker will not watch a full set.
Live footage beats a studio clip for booking, because it proves you can perform in front of people.
Clear audio matters more than a fancy camera. If the sound is bad, the video works against you.
5. Press And Reviews
Pull two or three short quotes from press, blogs, or playlists. Add the source name under each quote.
Add the outlet's logo if you have permission. A name a booker recognizes carries more weight than the words alone.
No press yet? Use playlist adds, radio spins, or a quote from a bigger act you have opened for. Real proof beats no proof.
6. Stats And Social Proof
Show the numbers that make you look real, like monthly listeners, followers, streams, or notable shows.
Different readers care about different numbers, so match them to who you are pitching:
- Venues care about your local draw: past ticket sales or crowd sizes in their city.
- Labels care about growth: monthly listeners and streams that are trending up.
- Sponsors care about reach: follower counts and engagement.
Only list numbers that help. If a number is small, leave it out.
7. Show Dates
List your upcoming shows, or recent ones if your calendar is quiet. This proves you are active and gig-ready.
Include the venue and city for each date, not just the day. Names a booker knows build trust fast.
Link to tickets for upcoming shows. If your calendar is empty, list recent highlights instead of leaving it blank.
8. Contact And Booking
Make this easy to find. Add your booking email, plus your manager or agent if you have one.
Give one clear contact, not five. Too many options leave a booker unsure who to email.
Use a real email, not only a contact form. Bookers move fast and want to reply straight from their inbox.
How Bookers And Promoters Actually Read Your EPK
Here is the part most guides skip. A booker gives your EPK about two minutes, often on a phone, between other tasks.
They scan in this order: photo, one song, live video, then contact. If those four land, they keep reading. If not, they close the tab.
At each step they are asking one question:
- Photo: do you fit our room and our crowd?
- Song: does your sound match the night we are booking?
- Video: can you actually deliver this live?
- Contact: can I book you without chasing you down?
Answer all four fast and you make the yes easy. Bury your best song or hide your email, and you make them work, which usually means they move on.
Common EPK Mistakes That Get You Passed Over
Most weak EPKs fail for the same few reasons. Here is each one, why it costs you, and how to fix it.
Keep It To One Page
A booker will not scroll through five screens between meetings. The longer your EPK, the more likely they close it before they reach your best material.
Cut anything that does not help you get booked. One page, with your best work up top, is the target.
If you truly need more room, link out to your full website instead of stretching the EPK.
Use Real Press Photos, Not Phone Shots
Blurry, dark, or low-resolution photos make you look like a beginner, even when your music is strong.
A booker judges your level in seconds, and photos are the first thing they see. Weak images cost you before they hear a single note.
You do not need a big budget. One short session with a local photographer gives you a few usable press shots that last a year.
Test Every Link Before You Send It
A broken track, a missing video, or a dead page stops the review cold. A booker will not hunt for a working version.
Broken links also signal that you do not keep your kit current, which makes you look inactive.
Open your EPK in a fresh tab and click every link, every time, before you share it.
Build It As A Web Page, Not A PDF
A heavy PDF is slow to open on a phone, and most bookers open your link on mobile first.
A PDF also goes stale the moment your next release drops, and you have to email a new file every time something changes.
A web page loads fast, updates in seconds, and lets your music and video play in place.
Put Your Booking Contact Where They Can See It
If a booker cannot find how to reach you in a few seconds, they move on to the next act.
Do not hide your email behind a contact form only, and do not bury it at the very bottom of the page.
Put a clear booking email near the top, and repeat it at the bottom so it is never more than a scroll away.
Refresh It Before Every Pitch
Old show dates, last year's bio, and stale numbers all tell a booker you are not active right now.
An EPK is a living page, not a one-time job. The details age fast, and outdated stats work against you.
Before you send it, update your dates, your streaming numbers, and any new press or releases.
Say What You Actually Sound Like
Lines like "genre-bending artist making music from the heart" tell a booker nothing they can use.
A booker needs to place your sound and your audience fast, so they know if you fit their room or their night.
Name your genre, a couple of influences, and who your music is for. Specific beats poetic every time.
How EPKs Differ By Type: Band, DJ, Solo Artist, Producer
What a strong EPK leads with changes with the kind of act you are. Here is what to emphasize for each, and why that booker cares.
Band EPK
A promoter needs to know the whole group can perform together and fill a room. So a strong band EPK leads with a group photo and a live video with a visible crowd.
It lists tour dates with venues, names your draw in each city, and often links to merch. Include a short origin story, a clear genre, and one booking contact for the group.
DJ EPK
Promoters book a vibe and a crowd, not a single song. So a strong DJ EPK leads with a mix or set embed that shows your genre and energy.
It lists the clubs and festivals that have trusted you, adds a tech note or rider if needed, and keeps the booking form clean. Use a photo that fits the rooms you want to play.
Solo Artist EPK
Writers and bookers connect with a person and a story. So a strong solo EPK leans on a striking portrait, one standout song, and a clear personal angle a writer can quote.
A long list of credits does less here than one memorable line. Add a mailing list link and press quotes that build trust fast.
Producer EPK
Artists and labels want proof you can deliver. So a strong producer EPK leads with your best work and a list of credits or placements.
Make it simple to request a beat, a session, or a sync. Downloadable beats or stems and a direct contact do more than a long bio.
How To Make Your EPK: Page Vs PDF, And Your Options
First, choose the format. You have three main paths.
A PDF or a Canva one-sheet is quick, but it is hard to update and clunky on a phone. A dedicated EPK tool builds a simple press page fast, though your kit then lives on that company's domain.
The third path is to build your EPK as a page on your own website. That keeps it on your own domain, quick to update, with your music and video embedded right in.
Whichever tool you pick, look for four things: it works well on a phone, it is easy to update, it lets you embed music and video, and it gives you one clean link.
Keep a one-page PDF as a backup too. Some festival and grant portals still make you upload a file instead of a link.
If you already have a music website, adding an EPK page is simple. Many music website templates include a press or press-kit page for exactly this, like the ones on Pixpa's music and performing arts templates or its musician website builder.
Where you build it makes a difference. The best website builders for musicians let you embed your tracks and video in place, and real musician website examples give you a feel for layout before you start.
Whatever you pick, the rule is the same. One link, fast to open, easy to update, with your best work up top.
How To Build Your EPK, Step By Step
You do not need a designer. You can build a solid EPK in an afternoon by following these steps.
Step 1: Gather Your Assets
Collect your bio notes, two or three photos, your best tracks, one live video, a few press quotes, your show dates, and your contact details.
Save your photos and video web-sized so the page loads fast. Having it all in one place first makes the rest go quickly.
Step 2: Write Your Bio
Write the short version first, then expand it into the long one. Open with your strongest line, not your childhood.
Read it out loud. If it sounds like a resume, rewrite it so it sounds like a person.
Step 3: Add Your Sections In Scan Order
Lay the page out the way a booker reads it. Photo first, then music, then a live video, then your bio, press, stats, and dates.
Put your booking contact near the top, and again at the bottom.
Step 4: Get Your Shareable Link
Make the page public and copy the link. This one link is what you send to bookers, venues, and press.
Use a short, easy-to-read web address if you can. It looks more professional and is easier to paste into an email.
Step 5: Test It On A Phone
Open your EPK on your phone. Check that it loads fast, every link works, the video plays, and your email is easy to find.
Fix anything that makes a busy booker wait. Most people will open your link on mobile first.
Your EPK Checklist
Run through this quick list before you send your EPK to anyone.
- Short and long bio, with a strong opening line
- Two or three high-quality press photos, easy to download
- Your best two or three tracks, embedded and playable
- One live performance video
- Two or three press or fan quotes, with sources
- Real numbers: listeners, followers, or notable shows
- Upcoming or recent show dates
- Booking contact near the top and the bottom
- One public link that loads fast on a phone
- Your strongest work placed up top
EPK FAQs
What Does EPK Stand For?
EPK stands for electronic press kit. It is your press kit built as a web page you share with one link, used to pitch venues, promoters, labels, and press.
How Much Does An EPK Cost?
You can make a basic EPK for free with a template or a free tool. Hosting one on your own website runs a few dollars a month, and a designer-built page can cost a few hundred.
Are EPKs Still A Thing?
Yes. Bookers, venues, and labels still ask for an EPK, and it is often the first thing they want after they hear your name. The format moved from a mailed PDF to a shareable link, but the expectation is the same.
Do I Need An EPK If I Am Just Starting Out?
Yes, and it can matter most when you are new. With no long track record, your EPK is the proof that you are ready, so a clean one-page kit makes it easy for a venue to say yes.
Is An EPK The Same As My Website?
Not quite. Your website is your full home online, with your store, blog, and portfolio. Your EPK is one focused page built to get you booked, and it can live on your site.
How Do I Make An EPK For Free?
Use a free EPK template or the free plan on a website builder. Add your bio, photos, music, video, and booking contact, then make the page public and share the link.
How Long Should An EPK Be?
One page. A booker spends about two minutes on it, usually on a phone, so keep it short and put your best work first.
Where Should I Host My EPK?
On a page you control, ideally your own website or domain. That way you can update it any time, the link never breaks, and you are not tied to another company's platform.
Should My EPK Be Public Or Private?
Keep it public so anyone you pitch can open the link with no password. Use a private or password-protected link only for unreleased music you are not ready to share.
Do I Need To Keep It Updated?
Yes. Refresh your photos, music, stats, and show dates every few months, and always before a big pitch. Outdated dates and old numbers make you look inactive.