Much has changed for musicians with the rise of Social Media from marketing to artist-fan relations to the distribution of music. This has forced artists to rethink how they communicate with labels, the press and fans. A traditional form of presenting music to industry stakeholders is the press kit. These typically have included a demo, photos, printed reviews, biography, etc. But with the various resources available with Web 2.0, such as MySpace Music, artists essentially have an electronic press kit that is available to anyone at all times. This doesn’t mean that all artists use their MySpace page for this reason or even should. Instead they should use it as one element in creating an electronic press kit (EPK) versus a traditional press kit. The following are 3 simple steps towards creating your very own EPK:

Thanks to MySpace, it’s no longer absolutely necessary for musicians to have their very own website. Instead, they can use their MySpace to showcase their music/videos/pictures and provide any additional biography/tour related information. Having a website doesn’t hurt though because it could make you look more professional and allow you to be found through search engines. Whatever you decide to do, the link you provide in your EPK to your MySpace or website should include your work because, ultimately, this is what labels/venues care about the most. Whether you provide a link to your MySpace page or to your website, make sure that the music is easy to find. The idea is to get them to voluntarily listen to your music rather than feel like it’s being forced upon them, which could potentially turn them off right away. However, MySpace isn’t the only tool you can use. YouTube is increasingly popular and not only can you display your music but can even include a video of yourself talking about it.

In addition to your music you should include some information about yourself but limit it to one side of a single page. This page can include a short bio, marketing plans, tour dates and any other information you deem relevant and important. You can use bullet points or titles/subtitles to make the text more organized and easier to read but try to keep it as simple as possible and not too fancy. Labels receive an overwhelmingly large amount of press kits all the time, which is why it’s important to be concise and to the point. If you do decide to send your press kit via snail mail, make sure it’s not highly elaborate and easily accessible. In other words, don’t shrink wrap your CD or fill your press kit with glitter.

Typically, there are two places you send your EPK to: venues and labels. If you’re sending to a venue, they’re going to want to know how many audience members you’re going to bring. This information can be included in the e-mail before you link them to your press kit and/or MySpace Music page. If you’re sending to a label, they’re going to place emphasis on you as a brand. This means they will want to know if you’ve toured with any bigger acts, where you’ve played and where you’re from. Again, you can touch on these in the e-mail and then expand on them in your EPK. Be sure to personalize the email and then follow up.