As a rapper, you want to establish your identity online. Branding is important in everything you do, from social media to your artist website.
A key part of showing up online to promote your music, book shows, and impress industry professionals is to make an effective rapper EPK.
Especially if you are an up-and-coming rap artist, you’ll want to be sure that the details surrounding your music to date are recent, on brand, and to the point.
Making a press kit for a rapper will professionally showcase who you are and what you can do. It’ll help you come across as a serious artist, and set you apart from the crowd.
Here’s how to make a press kit for a rapper in six easy steps:
1. Add your rapper bio
2. Get some on-brand press photos
3. Add your tracks
4. Include video of you in your element
5. Add press
6. Include contact info
1. Add your rapper bio
New to the rap scene? Write out a couple lines that talk about your music. If you’re a more seasoned performer, focus on show highlights. To write a bio for your rapper EPK, jot down a few sentences that show off who you are and what you’re doing right now.
The goal with an EPK bio is to influence the first impression that industry professionals will have of you and your music. Be sure to write something that conveys you in your best light, and plays up your most recent accomplishments.
A full musician bio can appear on your artist website, often on its own page, if you want something longer. But a short bio on your rapper EPK is a great place to start.
2. Get some on-brand press photos
For your rapper EPK you’ll need some high-quality press photos. These should put your artist brand on display right away. You can also use these photos across social or streaming platforms to help add continuity to your brand.
While EPK photos are essential for media to use, these images also help tell your story. Add photos that are relevant to your music if you’re promoting an album or single. Or offer different photo options–like headshots and live shots–if you’re using your press kit as a general online first-stop for media.
You can use these photos in the overall design of your EPK, but be sure to offer them as high-resolution images that press can download and use easily.
3. Add your tracks
Music should be the centerpiece of your rapper EPK. This is especially true if you’re wanting to promote new music with your EPK. If you’re looking to promote an album or single, focus your press kit around that. If you’re making an EPK to act as an overall snapshot of your rap career so far, choose your best tracks and upload those. Be sure to include a description even if it’s short.
It’s safe to assume that someone viewing your online press kit hasn’t heard your work before. Using a combination of music and text will get your point across quickly.
4. Include video of you in your element
The most engaging form of media is video. Use that to your advantage when you build out your rapper EPK by choosing a few videos that portray you in your element. Performance videos are a good bet if you’re looking to book shows with your EPK but if you have an official music video for a recount song, that will work too.
Keep in mind that venues or bookers will often come to an online EPK to find a video to embed on their own website or in their own promotions. So be sure the videos you add are relevant, and only choose a few. You can swao your videos out with new ones any time, as your career progresses.
5. Add press
Not all rappers have press built up when starting out with an EPK, but you probably can get at least a quote from someone reputable to describe your performance. The goal of adding press to a press kit is to help reviewers and media tell your story. So, quotes become tidbits that help build a picture of who you are and what you’ve accomplished.
Short quotes work well, and you can include longer-form sentences that link out to full articles once you’ve built up impressive online mentions.
6. Include contact info
Part of what makes a press kit effective is its ease of use. All of the concise details are in one place, easy for industry professionals to find–and contact details are no exception.
Add a contact form or booking email address here, and include links to the social platforms you’re using to build your online presence, Instagram or YouTube. If you'd like reviewers or fans to find your streaming numbers or follow you on those platforms, include icons to Spotify, Apple music, or wherever you’re active as well.
-----------------------------------
An EPK should have a flow and rhythm to it that tells the story of who you are and why your music is important. It should also include the details that industry professionals and fans need to not only get to know you as an artist, but to book you to perform.
Make a digital press kit that includes these essential elements and update it as your career progresses. It’ll only benefit you as an artist.
Why not share this with your friends?
Build a stunning band website and store in minutes
- Promote your music on your own unique website.
- Sell music & merch directly to your fans. Keep 100%.
- Grow your fan base with built-in marketing tools.
Free 30 day trial, no credit card needed.
Comments
There are no comments yet.