Writing good music is not enough anymore for your work as a band to get noticed. It’s all about playing shows, getting noticed on Spotify and having a steady following on social media. Even more so, getting an online presence built up by getting reviewed and interviewed by online media channels is equally important.

But how and where do you begin? Should you focus on getting a bigger fanbase on social media, or should you start offline marketing? What about networking? Well, first things first. If you want to get attention, you need to build an electronic press kit for your band. With an electronic press kit, you are not only branding yourself as a band, but you’re also selling yourself.

Let’s quickly dive into the essentials of what a press kit should look like.

1. What is a press kit?

Think of the job application process, in order for your profile to get noticed by a certain company, you need to send them a CV, a portfolio and even some references. Journalists, labels, A&R managers all will need to get some information about your band which will give them a bigger understanding of who you are and what you have done in the past.

So, in short… A press kit is your professional music resume that promoters, venue talent buyers, journalists, and others use to understand who you are as an artist, what you bring to the table, what makes you stand out and why they ultimately should care about you.

2. What should you include in your press kit?

So, you’re ready to make a press kit! Well, here’s what you have to know about it. Having the right materials in your press kit and making sure that is has a cohesive and clear look is really important.

Every material should be consistent, ask yourself if your photos, artwork, videos etc. look like they represent the same band. These are some suggestions of what you can include in your press kit, but remember it all depends on your situation and need and why you are sending it out in the first place.

BIOGRAPHY

Telling your story is one of the most essential parts of a press kit. A biography is very necessary. Include background information about yourself, and any relevant information about your releases.

These are some of the questions you should answer in your biography:

• What is your band’s name?

• Where are you from?

• When were you founded?

• Who is in the band? Do the members have any other experience from previous bands?

• What is your sound? What genre do you play?

• What are your achievements? Did you join anyone as a support act on tour? Did you win any competitions?

• What is your latest material?

• What have some of the most important media outlets said about your music?

Make sure the entire biography is consistent and engaging. Keep in mind that you want people to listen to your music and dive deeper into your band by reading your biography. If you feel uncomfortable or uncertain about writing your biography, ask someone else to do it.

FOR FANS OF

Remember on Amazon when you order something and they suggest something you might want to try as well? Mention in your press kit what kind of people will enjoy listening to your music, eg. “For Fans Of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden etc.”

This is especially useful when venues are looking for a support band or for those who have very specific tastes.

ONE SHEET

Most press kits also have one sheet that summarizes and distills its essential information into a single page. This is usually meant to promote the release of an album, such as a press release.

CALENDAR

Building an audience is critical to an artist. That’s why every press kit should include a list of upcoming concerts in venues or festival shows. Keep in mind to keep it updated.

BAND PHOTOS

Now that we have learned a little bit more about you, we also want to attach an image to the picture that we painted in our minds. Add your latest band photos to the press kit. Make sure that you have both hi-res (300 dpi) and lo-res (72 dpi) versions, 600 px wide at a minimum. Provide enough options, both horizontal and vertical, as different outlets have different layout preferences.

LIVE PHOTOS

Promotional photographs are not the same as live photographs, additionally feel free to add some concert photographs from one of your latest shows to the press kit. Don’t forget to credit the photographer.

MUSIC

When you send out a press kit about an EP, album or a single, it’s only natural those receiving it are going to wonder what it actually sounds like. If you are sending a press kit out for other purposes, include your very best three songs.

MUSIC VIDEOS

Include your latest and most engaging music videos in the press kit. Especially journalists like to share multimedia content with their readers. When the video looks professionally made with a great production, you might get even more shares.

Promoters are more likely to book you for a gig or a festival if you have a great live video that shows up your shredding capabilities and amazing stage presence.

LINKS

Remember that those who get your press kit in hand might want to check out everything a little bit more in detail. It’s therefore important to include links to your social media accounts, your official website and any platform where you can purchase or listen to your music.

QUOTES

As mentioned during the biography, it can be appealing for others to read about what press has previously stated about your music. Select a few compelling quotes from past reviews, that you can link back to the full articles to include in your press kit.

CONTACT INFO

Include the best way to contact you, so that those who get the press kit, know where to reach out to you.

3. How to combine the files

Now that your press kit is ready, it’s time for combining the files together in a folder. Make sure that the folder has every file, you can organize it a bit with different folders inside the press kit. Ensure that all of your files have a proper title, that’s brief and informative.

Keep in mind that sending over a digital press kit, also means that the other party has to download it. Make sure that you zip the entire folder, so that it’s compressed to a smaller size. This way, it becomes quite easy to download as a whole!

Hopefully these tips will assist you in creating a press kit that will help you to boost both your online and offline presence. If the whole process is giving you a headache, or you feel like you could use some assistance in crafting a catchy and engaging press kit, you can reach out to us here. 

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