How to Make an EPK: A Step-by-Step Guide for Musicians

By Joseph Cheek · Published 11 October 2026

1. Decide who your EPK is for

Start with the opportunity you are approaching. Your EPK will be easier to build when you know who will receive it and what they need to assess.

Are you introducing your artist project to a journalist? Promoting a new single to radio? Asking a venue to book your band?

You can use one general artist EPK as a starting point, then tailor the material you highlight:

For example, a venue booker needs to understand the live act you are offering. A journalist covering a new single needs to understand that release and why it might interest their readers.

Check the recipient’s submission requirements before you start. An EPK can support an application or pitch, but it does not replace a required form, file format or submission process.

A radio presenter also needs to be able to listen to and download your song easily so they can consider playing it on their show. Make sure the relevant audio, access details and download options are clearly labelled.

2. Gather your materials before building

Create a folder with the assets you plan to use. We always recommend using a cloud-based storage system such as Dropbox or Google Drive so you can access and add to your assets from anywhere. Having everything ready helps you make clear choices about the kit instead of interrupting the process to find files.

For a first artist EPK, gather:

• A short artist bio.
• A longer artist bio with additional background and context.
• The songs or listening links you want to feature.
• Current artist photos and any required photographer credits.
• A relevant music or live performance video, if you have one.
• Your contact email and useful website or social links.
• Accurate release details or career highlights relevant to the pitch.

You can make a useful EPK without filling every possible section. If you do not have press coverage or a suitable video yet, build around your strongest available material.

To organise what you gather, use our copy-and-fill EPK template as a content worksheet before you build.

Use recognisable filenames for downloadable assets, such as Artist-Name-Press-Photo-01.jpg. Keep track of image credits and make sure you have permission for their intended promotional use.

3. Write a bio that introduces your music clearly

Begin your bio with the information someone needs to understand your act: your artist name, location, musical style and current activity.

Then add the details that make your project specific. That might be your approach to songwriting, the story behind a release or a relevant performance milestone.

A simple structure is:

1. Introduce the artist and sound.
2. Explain what is distinctive about the music or project.
3. Describe what you are releasing or working towards now.
4. Include a small number of relevant, verifiable highlights.

Write in the third person if you want a bio that a journalist or presenter can readily adapt. Keep a short version for quick reading and a longer version where more background is useful.

Be specific rather than relying on claims such as “unique sound” or “the next big thing.” Describe the music in terms that help someone imagine what they will hear.

Before adding the bio, read it aloud and check names, dates and locations. Someone unfamiliar with your project should be able to understand it without needing extra explanation.

4. Choose the right music, photos and video

Select material that supports the purpose of the kit. The recipient should be able to find the right song or performance without sorting through your entire catalogue.

Choose your featured music

Put your priority track or release first. For a general introduction, choose a focused selection that represents your current sound.

Label each song clearly. If you are pitching a particular release, make it obvious which track the pitch concerns.

For unreleased music, check that the listening method gives the intended recipient access while keeping the release private as needed. Test the link while signed out of your account.

If a radio station or other recipient requests an audio file, follow its technical requirements. A streaming link may not meet its submission needs.

Choose your photos

Use current photos that match how you present yourself as an artist. Select a clear lead image and make suitable high-resolution files available when someone needs publication assets.

Include photographer credits where required. A selection of portrait and landscape images can be useful for different editorial layouts, if you have suitable options.

Choose your video

Use a music video to show the creative identity of a release, or live footage to demonstrate your performance.

For booking enquiries, choose a clip that lets someone assess the act: your sound, stage presence and the lineup you are offering. Clear, representative footage can be more useful than an elaborate montage.

5. Organise your EPK into an easy-to-use page or document

Put your identity and most relevant material near the beginning. Someone opening the kit should quickly understand whose EPK it is and what you want them to hear.

A practical starting order is:

1. Artist name and lead image.
2. Short artist bio.
3. Long artist bio.
4. Featured music.
5. Relevant video.
6. Supporting release details, photos or highlights.
7. Clear contact information.

Use clear section headings and readable text. Give each section enough space, and keep essential details easy to find on a phone.

If you use an online EPK builder, choose a layout that suits your material rather than adding content simply to fill the design. If you create a PDF, use selectable text and clearly labelled clickable links, then check the exported file.

6. Add supporting details and a clear contact

Include the information someone needs to act on your pitch.

For release promotion, that may include the release title, date, artwork and a short explanation of the project. Add a press release where it provides useful detail, and label any advance material or embargo instructions clearly.

For live enquiries, include relevant performance experience and your booking contact. You can add practical information such as a stage plot when it is appropriate to the enquiry.

Use genuine career highlights and attributable press quotes. If you do not have them yet, leave them out.

Make the contact address easy to spot and check that it is monitored. If different people handle press and bookings, label those contacts clearly.

7. Test your EPK before sending it

Open the kit as the recipient would. For an online EPK, use a signed-out browser or private window so you can catch links that only work because you are logged in.

Check it on both a phone and a computer:

• Can you identify the artist and understand the purpose immediately?
• Does the featured music play?
• Do videos and external links open correctly?
• Can the recipient access any files you intend them to download?
• Are private tracks accessible to the intended recipient?
• Are names, release dates, image credits and contact details correct?
• Is the text readable without awkward zooming or sideways scrolling?
• Does the kit present the current version of your artist project?

If you are using a PDF, test the final exported version. Links and formatting that worked in the editor may behave differently in the file you send.

Ask someone unfamiliar with your music to open the EPK and find your featured song and contact address. Their experience can reveal gaps that are easy to miss when you know the material well.

8. Share your EPK with a focused pitch

Send the EPK with a short introduction that explains who you are, what you are approaching the recipient about and why it is relevant to them.

For a web-based kit, include a clearly labelled link. For a document, follow the recipient’s preferences about attachments or download links.

Keep the pitch focused on one clear opportunity. A journalist should not have to guess which release you want covered, and a venue should not have to guess what kind of show you are proposing.

Check the kit again before each new campaign. Update your music, bio and contact details when they change, and make sure the materials still support the pitch you are sending.

Can you make an EPK for free?

Yes. You can create an EPK using tools you already have or a service with a free option. Check that the result is easy to share and that recipients can access the material they need.

Artist EPK offers a free Artist EPK. Release and Live Performance kits are available on eligible paid plans.

Choose the format that suits your needs, and pay attention to what is included before committing to a platform.

Should you make an online EPK or a PDF?

An online EPK is a practical choice when you want one shareable link with music, video and supporting material together. A PDF can be useful when a recipient requests a document or you need a fixed version of the kit.

Choose the format that makes the recipient’s job easier. You can use both when it serves a purpose, but check each version so they do not give conflicting information.

How long should an EPK be?

An EPK should be long enough to provide the information needed for the opportunity, with the key details easy to scan.

There is no useful universal page count. Keep your introduction concise, feature a focused selection of music and include additional detail only where it helps someone assess or feature your work.

See a finished EPK example

Explore the Artist EPK by Slow Gin to see how a bio, music, photos and contact information can fit together in a finished kit.

Use it as a reference for presentation and clarity, then build around your own artist identity and the opportunities you are pursuing. Our EPK examples walkthrough explains what each part of the kit achieves.