What is an EPK and How to Make One (Free EPK Template)

In today’s music industry, having a professional Electronic Press Kit (EPK) is essential for artists aiming to grow their careers. Whether you're an independent artist, band, or working with a team, a well-crafted EPK opens doors to booking agents, press, music supervisors, and more. But what exactly is an EPK, and how do you build one that sets you apart?

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In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about building an effective EPK and introduce a powerful tool to simplify the process: Venice’s Co-Manager. Co-Manager is an AI-powered assistant that can help you craft your EPK. Using your music's data Co-Manager can help you craft personalized bios and help you choose which stats to highlight based on your unique story. Trained on hundreds of successful EPK examples, Co-Manager can help you create a professional EPK you're excited to share.

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What is an EPK?

An Electronic Press Kit (EPK) is essentially your digital resume as a musician. It’s a single, curated space that holds all the essential materials a music industry professional might need to understand who you are—everything from your artist bio and music to high-quality photos, videos, and press releases. The goal of an EPK is to convey your brand and music with clarity, while making an impression that captivates talent buyers, music supervisors, and press.

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Your EPK serves as a snapshot of your musical identity, offering industry insiders a comprehensive view of your work. Whether you're pitching to press outlets, submitting for live bookings, or seeking placements for your music in film and TV, your EPK acts as a powerful tool to advance your career and tell your story in the most compelling way possible.

Why You Need an EPK

An EPK isn't just a collection of your best work; it’s a strategic tool designed to help you secure more opportunities in the music industry.

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Here’s why having a professional EPK is crucial:

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Your First Impression Matters: Your EPK is often the first point of contact between you and industry pros. Having a polished kit ensures you make a strong and professional first impression.
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Easy Access for Industry Pros: Booking agents, press, and talent buyers sift through hundreds of submissions. A streamlined EPK makes it easier for them to get to the heart of who you are as an artist.
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Versatility: Versatility: EPKs are useful across multiple contexts: submitting to festivals, pitching to blogs, sending to booking agents, or film industry professionals when applying for sync placements. By creating multiple EPKs, you can tailor each version to a specific audience.
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Increased Media Exposure: A good EPK makes it easier for journalists and bloggers to write about you, increasing your chances of securing press coverage.

What Should Be Included in Your EPK?

To create an EPK that is comprehensive and professional, make sure you include the following key elements:
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1. Artist Bio

Your artist bio is the foundation of your EPK. It should succinctly describe who you are, your background, and your musical identity. Make sure to include both a short artist bio for quick reads and an extended version for more detailed insights into your career.
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2. High-Quality Photos

Visuals are a key part of your brand. Include high-resolution photos that can be used for press coverage, album artwork, and promotional material. Consider a mix of band photos, live performance shots, and portrait-style images.
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3. Music and Streaming Links

Include direct links to your most popular songs and upcoming releases on major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. This gives industry insiders quick and easy access to your music.
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4. Music Videos and Live Footage

Featuring high-quality music videos and live performance footage can give booking agents a better idea of your on-stage presence and artistry. Dropping a music video is also great for engaging media outlets or press.
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5. Press Quotes and Coverage

If you’ve been featured in media outlets, include press quotes that add credibility to your work. These are especially useful for building your reputation among industry professionals.
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6. Contact Information

Always include your contact details or your management team’s contact information to ensure that those interested in working with you can easily get in touch.

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Get our Free EPK Template

How Venice’s Co-Manager Can Help You Build and Manage Your EPK

Building an EPK from scratch can be time-consuming, especially when you need to ensure that all your promotional material is organized and up-to-date. This is where Venice’s Co-Manager comes in.

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What is Co-Manager?

Co-Manager is an AI-powered assistant designed specifically for independent artists to help manage and grow their music careers. It offers personalized, data-driven insights and guidance on key aspects of your career, including creating and refining professional EPKs. By analyzing your music data, fan engagement, and streaming analytics, Co-Manager provides tailored recommendations, ensuring your EPK highlights your best achievements and speaks directly to your target audience. Trained by music industry experts and built on insights from hundreds of successful EPK examples, ensuring your press kit is crafted to meet industry standards and effectively showcase your unique story.

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How Can Co-Manager Help You Build a Professional EPK?

1. Help you write your EPK bio

Co-Manager assists you in writing compelling artist bios and crafting EPKs that stand out. By analyzing your music data, it provides expert suggestions for structuring your press kit, ensuring you highlight the right career achievements and tailor your content to your goals.

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2. Data-Driven Insights

What sets Co-Manager apart is its ability to analyze real-time data from streaming platforms and social media. It uses this data to continuously optimize your EPK, ensuring it reflects your latest stats, listener behavior, and press coverage. If your latest single is trending or a press outlet picks up your music, Co-Manager can help you update your EPK instantly to include this information.

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3. Personalized Marketing Strategies

Co-Manager doesn’t just help you build your EPK—it also assists with your marketing campaigns. Whether you’re planning a release, organizing a press push, or preparing for a tour, Co-Manager provides step-by-step recommendations for promoting your music effectively. This includes tips on which playlists to target, how to allocate your marketing budget, and when to release promotional photos.

4. Integration with Venice’s Platform

Co-Manager works seamlessly with the Venice platform, pulling in critical music data—like your streaming numbers, fan demographics, and revenue breakdowns—to offer tailored advice. This ensures that your EPK is always backed by accurate, up-to-date information, giving you a competitive edge in your pitches to industry professionals.

Want help writing your EPK? Co-Manager can help.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your EPK with Co-Manager

Now that you know what should go into your EPK and how Co-Manager can streamline the process, here’s a step-by-step guide to get started:

Step 1: Gather Your Assets

Start by gather your essential materials—high-quality photos, videos, music files, and press quotes—into one folder

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Step 2: Build Your EPK

Co-Manager can help you figure out what specifically stands out about you to tailor your EPK to stand out. Additionally, it can help you create specific EPKs depending on your goal. Whether you're aiming to pitch your music to press outlets or secure gigs, Co-Manager can help you customize each version of your EPK for different audiences.

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Step 3: Update Your EPK in Real Time

As your career progresses, you’ll need to update your EPK when promoting a new album, new releases, looking for press coverage, or tour dates. Get your most recent performance data from Co-Manager to update your EPK to stay relevant.

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Building a Standout EPK: The Importance of Storytelling

At the heart of a great EPK is compelling storytelling. Beyond simply listing your achievements, your EPK should convey who you are as an artist and what makes you unique. Music industry professionals—whether they are booking agents, music supervisors, or journalists—are looking for more than just numbers and accolades. They want to connect with your narrative, understand your artistic vision, and see how you stand out in an increasingly crowded field.

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This is where crafting a well-thought-out artist bio becomes crucial. Your bio is your chance to give context to your music. It’s not just about listing your hometown, genre, or favorite influences. Instead, focus on the story behind your career: why you started making music, what your creative process looks like, and what motivates you as an artist. Whether you're a DIY artist who rose from local open mics or a classically trained musician blending genres in new ways, your story can help industry professionals see the depth of your work.

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How to Tailor Your EPK for Different Audiences

As you refine your EPK, it’s essential to remember that different industry professionals look for different things. This means tailoring your EPK for specific use cases can greatly increase its effectiveness.

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For Booking Agents: Booking agents are primarily interested in your live performance abilities and audience draw. Make sure your EPK highlights your past tours, venue sizes, and any sold-out shows or notable festival performances. Videos of your live performances are crucial here—agents want to see that you can deliver on stage and hold an audience’s attention.
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For Press and Media: Journalists and bloggers are interested in your story, your musical evolution, and any notable press coverage or accolades. Include detailed press quotes and links to previous articles to provide credibility. Additionally, focus on providing high-resolution photos and engaging visuals that can easily be included in articles or promotional materials.
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For Sync Placements: Music supervisors looking to place your songs in film, TV, or commercials are less interested in your live performances and more focused on the sound and emotional depth of your music. Make sure you include specific songs in your EPK that are suited for sync, along with a detailed explanation of the mood or vibe your music creates.
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Venice’s Co-Manager makes it easy to create multiple versions of your EPK, each tailored to the exact needs of different audiences. The ability to instantly adjust your press kit with real-time data means you can adapt your pitch depending on the professional you’re reaching out to—whether it's highlighting your live performance stats for a festival or emphasizing your sync-ready tracks for a music supervisor.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid When Building Your EPK

While creating your EPK, it’s essential to avoid a few common pitfalls that could cost you valuable opportunities:

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Cluttered Design: Your EPK should be visually clean and easy to navigate. Overloading your press kit with too much text, imagery, or complex layouts can make it difficult for industry pros to find the information they need. Keep it simple and well-organized.

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Outdated Information: Nothing undermines your professionalism faster than out-of-date information. If you have a press quote from five years ago or photos that don’t reflect your current image, it’s time for an update. Regularly refresh your EPK with the latest releases, achievements, and press mentions to keep it current and relevant.

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Lack of Contact Info: It may sound obvious, but always make sure your EPK contains clear, accessible contact information. Whether it’s your personal email or the details of your management team, ensure that anyone interested in working with you can reach out quickly and easily.

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Missing Call-to-Actions: While your EPK is primarily a resource for showcasing your work, it should also encourage industry professionals to take action. Whether you’re seeking bookings, press coverage, or sync placements, include a clear call to action in your press kit. For example, you might suggest, “Contact us for press inquiries” or “Get in touch to book me for your next festival.”

Final Tips for Crafting a Successful Music EPK

Stay Updated: Regularly update your EPK to reflect your latest releases, achievements, and press mentions.

Tailor for Your Audience: Customize your EPK for specific audiences, whether you're submitting it to blogs, labels, or booking agents.

Use Co-Manager: Leverage Co-Manager to help you craft a compelling EPK. It provides personalized insights on how to present your story, highlights your most impressive stats, and ensures your EPK speaks to industry professionals in a way that resonates.

Electronic press kits are a powerful tool for advancing your music career, and Venice’s Co-Manager makes the process of building and maintaining it easier than ever. Whether you’re looking for more press coverage, to connect with music industry professionals, securing bookings, or increasing your fan engagement, a well-organized EPK will help you reach your goals.

Use Co-Manager to help you craft a standout EPK that truly reflects your unique story and career. With Co-Manager, you can get personalized guidance on how to write your artist bio, identify the most compelling stats from your streaming and fan data, and highlight your achievements in a way that resonates with industry professionals. It simplifies the process, ensuring your EPK is both professional and tailored to your goals—whether you're pitching to press, securing gigs, or seeking sync placements.

Become a Pro Member today to access Co-Manager and other exclusive tools that help you tell your story, grow your fanbase, and take your music career to the next level.

There are also several templates available for purchase online: