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Accelerating
the Careers of Today's and Tomorrow's Superstars
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MySpace - If you do it right,
GO AHEAD
How To Create a
Professional Press Kit and Digital
EPK An extremely important
element of promoting your
music
As
a struggling independent musician in a highly
competitive, over-crowded market it should be left
unsaid that you need to stand out from the crowd.
In the Music-Biz-101 archives we have noted many ways to
do this ---- Music Publicity, Radio Promotion, extensive
tour presence, and the almighty marketing and
promotion. You need to get your message out there
- period. Getting
your message out there is one thing but getting the
right message out there in another. Your
professional image is of the utmost importance in order
to rise above the rest. Most independent bands and
indie artists have some sort of a press kit they use for
promotional purposes. Either a traditional print
media kit, a digital press kit (DPK) or an online EPK
(Electronic Press Kit). But just how professional
and convincing is it? A
frequently asked question that we get all the time from
our independent artists is which type of press kit
should we put together? Which one works best and
is most impressive and effective? - The Print Press
Kit? The Digital Press Kit (DPK)? Or the
Electronic Press Kit (EPK)? The answer to that
question lies somewhere in between. What is meant
by this is that we recommend creating and
maintaining two types of press
kits. Either a print or digital music
press kit and an electronic press kit. The reason
for this is simple. Certain media outlets, labels,
etc. prefer a print press kit or digital press kit with
your full blown CD so it can be listened too on high
efficiency stereo equipment to get the full effect of
your music and its production qualities. Others
prefer not to have their office congested with piles of
press kits, and their preferred method is just
reviewing your material online. It's quicker and
easier, less messy, and says a lot about the
environmental move toward saving trees. For the
reasons just noted, we recommend you do a print or
digital press kit and have one online as well.
There's really nothing to creating an online EPK so why
not have it available. There are a few very good
EPK services out there. One of the most popular is
SonicBids. For $6.95 per
month, they provide all of the features you need.
But we put an emphasis on the fact that an EPK is not
enough. You still must have the traditional print
or digital press kit in your promotional
arsenal.
Music Industry Related
Copywriting Services for Indie Artists You name it
MUSIC PRESS
KITS 101 - A How To Guide ......
PROCEDURES:
Supplies you'll need: Heavy stock
paper How to
Go About It: 1. COVER AND LETTER
OF INTRODUCTION: 2.
Artist's or Bands
Biography: 3. 8"
X 10" Promotional Photo: 4.
Media and Press Section: 5.
Album Reviews and Quote sheets: 6. CD
- Either a Full Length Album, EP, or Professionally Recorded
Demo: 7.
CD- Music Industry One-Sheet: 8.
Business Card and Professional Envelope and
Labeling: Some importants notes to make the One thing you need to
remember is that things are constantly changing with you as an
artist. Ne feature articles, new national tour, new more
updated image/photos, etc. Therefore once you get the
first version of your music press kit finished, you are never
finished. Keep updating it with new materials and new
photos for future mailings. Remember when it comes to
your music press kit, you are never done. It's a work in
progress. Once you have
snet your press kit to someone it does not end there.
FOLLOW UP a couple weeks or so later with a phone call, email,
or correspondence. Labels, media, and venues receive
hundreds of press kits weekly. Don't let yours get lost
in the shuffle. Make sure to bring it to their attention
and to the forfront of the barage of kits they receive. Digital (DPK) The Digital Press Kit generally contains the same
information as the traditional print music press kit.
Although it provides the ability to actually add more without
being overcrowded. Basically all your information, your
bio, media articles, music, quotes, etc. are housed on a CD
Rom as files. The DPK because of certain expertise
involved in programming, graphic arts, etc., should however
probably be professionally done. Unless of course you,
another band nmember, or someone you know is proficent in
doing this. The benefits of a DPK are pretty
obviously. They take no paper, no portfolios, no paper
photos, or any print media. Everything is digital.
The DPK is usually housed in a DVD Case which has professional
artwork. So there is still the element of graphic
artwork involved on the cover and CD stamp. Overall, the
DPK is a good alternative to the print music press
kit.
Electronic
(EPK) The Electronic
Press Kit, better known as the EPK is basically an online
version of your promotional materials. Sort of like a
website but not quite. It's similar to the DPK only in
that all the files and graphics are digital. You
basically create an EPK like you would create a website.
However there are a few good services out there that provide
template based wysiwyg editors that basically give you the
opportunity to simply upload your files. There is
usually a section for your biography, your photos, your press,
your music, your videos, and your backline requirements.
The most popular EPK services out there is SonicBids. They
offer a free 30 day trial, then it's only $6.95 per
month. They provide you with all the
aformentioned and everything you need to have a professional
EPK presence on the Internet. Sonicbids is the website
that helps bands get gigs. Join now free for festivals, contests, licensing
and more.
The benefits to having an EPK are
many.... It's simple just to send someone a link from an
email. But remember, some outlests only accept print
press kits. So know who you are sending your promotional
material too and make sure you follow their guidelines for
submission.
Use of the allureinc.com website
constitutes acceptance of terms and privacy
Policy
An
Artist Development
Company
Music Marketing, Music Promotion -
Create a Buzz
>> Resources
for creating an impressive and professional music press
kit
AMEG
since
1983
More
strategies
it can help
explode your career
Expose
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Independent Artists Monthly
For a
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AMEG
It
is notable to mention that your Music press kit is probably
your most valuable promotional tool and it needs to be taken
very seriously. Other than your CD and live
performance it is usually the first impression of you as an
artist, which labels, venues, and other media outlets
will receive. There are many graphic art firms that
specialize in the preparation of media promotion kits that you
may want to consider if your budget permits. If
not, for a few dollars, a little creativity, and time and
effort, you can do it yourself. Here are the basic
elements of a print press kit and Electronic press kit,
and the professional means by which to go about
it.
> Biographys
> Press
Releases
> Marketing
Plans
> Press
Kits
> One-Sheets
>
CD
Reviews
> Web
Content
Our pros write it
....
To Creating a
Print, Digital, and Electronic Press
Kit
Traditional
Print Press Kit
Elements to
Include:
Cover w/ photo and contact
information
Cover letter of Introduction
Band or
Artist Biography
8" X 10" Promotional Photo
Media
Feature Articles / Releases
Album Reviews / Quote
Sheets
CD - Full Length, EP, or Professional
Demo
CD Industry One-Sheet
Artist's
Representative's Business Card
A Professionally
labeled Envelope
Portfolio Cover
Large Envelope
Address
Labels
Business Cards
8" X 10"
Glossy
Your professional music
press kit should have an impressive cover. This should
include a photo of the artist, artist's name, and artist's
contact information. Sort of like the cover of a
book. You should also include a cover letter of
introduction. This should introduce you as the artist
stating briefly a little about yourself. Don't get too
specific in this letter you can leave that for the bio and
other media which you will include. Make sure you
address the letter to one specific person - being personal is
important. It gives the appearance of a non-cookie
cutter look and that you feel this media outlet, label, venue,
agent, etc. has significance. Make sure that
either at the top or the bottom of this letter you have
included your full contact information or your artist's
representative's contact information. The cover letter
should be inserted just inside the kit's cover prior to any
other information. The contact information should
also be included at the bottom right on every page in the
promo kit.
The next page or what would actually be the first
informational page of the music media kit would be your
biography page. Here you should include a brief history
of the artist or band, a little about each member if it's a
full band. This should be no longer than one page
and should not be a long drawn out history of the band but
just a brief synopsis of what you have accomplished and where
you plan to go. More importantly, you should include
things like significant shows or tours, contests won, radio
play, or any achievements that you feel are noteworthy and may
raise you above others in terms of popularity and
development. Keep it simple, concise, and
meaningful. If there are no writers among you or your
friends than we highly recommend having your bio written for
you by a professional music copywriter. It's so
important that it must be professional.
The next item
should be your promotional photo. Typically in the
entertainment business the promotional photo or headshot /
Black & White Glossy, as they are sometimes called is
usually 8" X 10" in size, is glossy not a matte finish, and in
Black and White. In today's music industry environment
that's not always the case. It's acceptable to use a
color photo. Provided of course it's of high resolution,
and of extremely high quality. Your representative
contact information should be incliuded somewhere at the
bottom of the photo as with every other piece in the music
press kit. It's also okay to use other photos
scatter throughout the music media promotional kit in a
tasteful manner. But what is of extreme importance is
that your primary 8" x 10" is extremly thought out and
professional and the image portrayed in the photo
is moving. Ultimately we recommend having a
professional photo shoot with a professional photographer that
specializes in photography for musicians or
entertainers. Having photos taken by a buddy on a 3
megapixel digital camera just may not cut it. Take your
photos seriously!
The following
pages in your music promotion kit should be media and
press. These are basically significant clips of
any feature articles you may have received in music
industry magazines, or newspapers. Don't go
overboard. Include only media clips that really
highlight you as an artist. Pick the best five clips you
have - make sure they are professionally
reproduced. Noting irritates a person receiving these
kits more that sloppy crooked copies of media.
Take pride in the quality of the kit. Plastic
partitions should be used for each individual item.
You may
want to consider including good reviews of your CD and quotes
you have received regarding the CD or your performance.
This page should be professionally layed out with catorgerized
heading. One should be "ALBUM REVIEWS", the Other
"OUOTES". Don't forget to put quotation marks before and
after each review and quote DUH?
There are a few different ways to
attach your CD to your music press kit. If your
portfolio has a sleeve in the rear you can just slip it in
there. Another method is to us velcro strips placed on
the rear of the CD and attached somewhere on the inside of the
back cover. This however is not the recommended
method. Especially if the rear cover of your CD has
important imformation. If you
are enclosing a full length record or EP (Extended Play) the
hope would be that you have taken the time to release a
professional recording so it's professionalism is up to
snuff. However if you are only using a demo CD it is
extremely important to note the following:
If you
are enclosing a CD of a professionally recorded and
commercially released full length album or EP than it's a good
idea to attach a music industry one sheet. One sheets
are generally used during the music distribution process but
by enclosing one it gives the recepient of your press kit more
insight to your actual record. A one sheet usually
includes a photo of the album cover, album title, artist name,
brief description of the record, track listings, UPC code,
price point and a few other things. Notes in the one
sheet should include touring information, radio play, some
quotes, and a few other things. Here is a sample of an
industry one sheet. The one sheet should probably be
professionally written and produced as it is an item that
generally can get into the hands of very important
people.
If you or your representative
has a business that should also be attached to the folder
somewhere. Once the package is fully assembled it should
be placed in a professional envelope with printed address and
return address labeling. This may seem very time
consuming and you may think ... Why can't I just write
out the recepient's address. Well, that looks sloppy and
unprofessional and remember what we said about
sloppy. A lot of people won't even open a package if it
looks unprofessional on the outside. Some may call us
anal-retentive, but we get results by utilizing these
professional methods.
most of
your print music press kit.
In
this business you can never forget this one important old
adage:
"THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE OIL" and
you want the oil to juice up your career. Good luck
!
Press Kit
Press Kit
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