4 Ways Musicians Can Use An EPK | Music Think Tank

This post by Dave Cool originally appeared on the Bandzoogle Blog. 

An electronic press kit (EPK) — sometimes also called a digital press kit — is essential for making a strong first impression on promoters, bookers, media, and other music industry professionals.

You can think of it as your interactive artist resume, where anyone interested in your music can find all the information they need in one place. You can use your EPK to help you get more press, more gigs, and come across as a serious artist.

Since your website is the first place people will go to learn more about you and your music, you should host your EPK there. Then as you progress in your music career, you should keep your EPK up to date with new music, press, photos, and videos.

So, how exactly can you use an EPK to help your career?

1. Get press

This one should be pretty obvious — they don’t call it an electronic press kit for nothing! Whether you’re hoping for a blog to review your latest single, or perhaps an interview with your hometown newspaper about your musical journey, they’re all going to want to see your EPK to make their jobs easier.

If you present journalists and bloggers with a current bio, your latest music, your career highlights, links to active social media pages, and complete contact info, you’ll stand out as a professional artist who’s worth paying attention to.

2. Get your music played

You can also use your EPK to increase your chances of getting your music played. It’s possible that you’ll come across some radio stations that still prefer the old-school method of mailing a physical press kit, but the majority of the time, EPKs are preferred — they’re easier and more efficient all around.

If you’re ever in doubt, check the “submissions” section of the station’s website, or find a relevant contact and shoot them an email to ask about their submission process. We’d recommend starting out by pitching community radio, college radio, internet radio, and podcasts.

3. Book gigs

One of the best ways to put your EPK to work is by using it to book gigs and tours. Music venues and festivals love to see them, especially when they need to compare so many different acts to book the right talent and build a cohesive lineup.

But EPKs are also useful for showcases, private or corporate gigs, and even benefit concerts. Once again, it all comes down to professionalism and conveying an accurate, organized, and enticing snapshot of who you are as an artist — all on one page.

4. Recruit a team

Finally, an EPK can be a great tool to build a team, when you’re ready to take that next step in your music career. All kinds of industry folks — including managers, booking agents, record label executives, and publicists — will be nothing short of impressed to see a beautiful EPK on your website.

Even if you’re still in the early stages and you don’t have a ton of buzz yet, you just never know when an opportunity might arise — and when it does, you’ll be glad you have that EPK link ready to go.

Dave Cool (yes, that’s his real name) is the Director of Artist & Industry Outreach at Bandzoogle. Built for musicians by musicians, Bandzoogle makes it easy for musicians to build a beautiful website, and sell music, merch, and tickets commission-free. He’s a recovering punk rock drummer, comedy nerd, wine snob, and vintage hockey card collector.

[from http://bit.ly/1n4oEI8]