Creating A Press Kit

Creating A Press Kit

Creating A Press Kit, Music Marketing & Promotion Tips

It’s good for every band, artist, and musician to have a press kit prepared. To further your music career, you will need a press kit and demo to share with labels, agents, producers, and venues in the industry. This will show them who you are as an artist and what type of audience your music is going to attract.

Making A Press Kit

Press kits are simple to prepare, but every musician should put a lot of passion into it when creating one. The more appealing and professional the press kit is, the more attention it will receive from the recipient. You can make this yourself or hire a service to assist you. Press kits should include:

• A cover letter. Be personal and address the letter to a specific person. Introduce yourself and explain why you sent them your kit. Include your artist/band name, logo, and business card if you have one. Also include your personal contact information such as name, address, phone number, email address, and a website URL if any. Note: your contact information should be listed on every page of your kit.
• A short bio about yourself, your music, your achievements, and your goals. This should be brief and no longer than one page. If in a band, include a little information about each member.
• Your best photo. It’s recommended to send an 8×10 professional photo that’s in black and white with a glossy finish. Your contact information should also be included on the bottom of your photo.
• Press clippings and coverage. Any positive press that you’ve received from reviews or past performances. Don’t get carried away. Pick your top five clips. If you don’t have any, because you’re just getting started, don’t worry. After all, you’re sending out the kit to generate press.
• A list of past performances and scheduled shows/tours. Again, if you don’t have any to list, because you’re just starting out, don’t worry.
• Your CD or demo. If sending a demo, make sure it’s good quality, has no more than three tracks, and has your best song first. If you don’t have the song titles and times listed on your demo cover, be sure to list them on a separate sheet and include it in your kit. Place your contact information on your CD or demo. Click here for more information on making a demo.

Sending A Press Kit

• Once your press kit is complete, remember to update it with new press, photos, releases, and performance dates. This kit will be an effective tool for your music career, so it’s important to put a lot of effort into keeping it updated.
• Be sure to place your kit in a professional envelope. Print out labels for the address and return address. It looks more professional than simply writing it out.
• Make sure the recipient knows that you are sending them your kit. Don’t just mail it out before discussing it with them.
• Once sent, If you don’t hear back within a week or two, follow up with them to see if they received and reviewed your material. If you don’t receive an answer, keep trying until you get one and remain polite. The best way to go about this is by sending them an email. You should only call if they’re expecting your call. Otherwise, it can seem pushy. Following up can greatly benefit you, but will sometimes require a lot of patience.