An EPK (electronic press kit) is a web page or PDF with your bio, photos, music, press quotes, shows and contact, built so a booker or journalist can say yes in two minutes. You can make a good one free in about an hour. Gather eight assets, choose a format, write the bio in three lengths, add only true and dated numbers, build it, and share one link.
This guide goes through the six steps, then what an EPK costs. If you only want the template, use the free EPK template. For finished ones to study, read EPK examples that get booked.
Step 1: gather the eight assets
| Asset | Spec |
|---|
| Press photo | One landscape photo, 2000 pixels wide or more, face visible. Not a phone screenshot. |
| Second photo | A live or portrait shot in a different setting |
| Short bio | 50 to 80 words (see step 3) |
| Music | A Spotify or Bandcamp link for one embedded player |
| Video | One live clip, even if shot on a phone, with good audio |
| Numbers | Monthly listeners and followers from Spotify for Artists, each with a date |
| Press quotes | Up to three, each with the outlet name and a link |
| Contact | A real name and a booking email |
Step 2: choose the format
| Format | Shareable link | Easy to update | Works on a phone | Cost |
|---|
| Hosted web page (a builder) | Yes | Yes, edit in place | Yes | Free to about $7 a month |
| PDF | Attachment | No, resend each time | Awkward | Free |
| Canva or Google Docs | Yes, with a share link | Yes | Depends on the layout | Free |
| Your own website | Yes | Yes | Yes | Hosting and time |
A hosted page is the best default, because you can fix a number or add a show once and every link stays right. Keep a PDF as a backup for people who ask for an attachment.
Step 3: write the bio in three lengths
Write in the third person so a journalist can paste it. State what you make, where you are from, one thing a stranger can check, and what is next. Here are three lengths for an invented act, North Pier:
- One line (15 words): North Pier is an indie pop trio from Leeds making late-night songs about leaving home.
- Short (about 50 words): North Pier is an indie pop trio from Leeds. Their 2025 EP Salt Road was played on regional radio, and they have headlined small venues across northern England. A new single, Last Train North, is out in November.
- Long (about 150 words): keep this in a text file and send it only when an outlet asks. Add how the band formed, one or two notable shows or releases, who they have supported and what they are working on next.
Step 4: pick quotes and numbers that are true and dated
Use at most three press quotes, each with the outlet and a link. A quote from a regional blog a booker has heard of beats a generic line from a site nobody can place. Date every number, for example 214k monthly listeners as of October 2026. A reader can open Spotify in another tab, so an invented or old number costs you more than a small honest one.
Step 5: build it
In Stage the EPK builder has 41 templates (15 classic, 21 genre and 5 signature), all free to use. You click on any section to edit it, it autosaves, and you get a hosted link at stage.groovegainer.com/epk/your-name that has no time limit. A publish panel checks for a real photo, a bio, music, a booking contact and one piece of proof. Spotify and YouTube embeds, a shows list and downloadable stage plot and tech rider files are included. Pro adds PDF and HTML export and lets you hide the Stage line.
If you prefer a document, the one-sheet template and the EPK template are free to copy into Canva or Google Docs.
Step 6: share it
- Put the EPK link in the first line of every pitch and in your email signature.
- Add a QR code to merch and flyers.
- Update the page when something changes. Everyone who has the link sees the new version.
- Check the timing of your pitches. OnesToWatch's guide suggests pitching premieres four to six weeks before release and reviews two to four weeks before.
How much does an EPK cost in 2026?
| Option | Cost |
|---|
| Do it yourself in a document | $0 |
| Stage Free (hosted link, every template) | $0, no time limit |
| Stage Pro (adds PDF and HTML export) | $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year |
| Bandzoogle EPK-only plan | $6.95 a month, or $6.37 a month billed yearly |
| Pre-made template on Etsy | Roughly $6 to $10 per download, seen in October 2026 |
| A designer or publicist | Varies by country and scope; ask for the files and the right to edit |
Bandzoogle's figure is from its pricing page, checked on 4 October 2026. We do not quote a designer range because we could not find a sourced one.
Frequently asked
What is an example of an EPK?
A one-page site with the artist's name and tagline, a short bio, a Spotify player, a video, up to three press quotes, a shows list and a booking contact. You can see structured examples and what makes them work in our post on EPK examples that get booked.
What format should an EPK be in?
A hosted web page you can update, with a PDF as a backup for people who ask for an attachment. If you send a PDF, make every release, video and contact a clickable link.
How to create an EPK in Canva?
Make a one-page design with the same sections: name and tagline, bio, photo, links, quotes and contact. Share it as a link or export a PDF with live links. The downside is that you must re-export and resend when something changes.
Are EPKs still a thing in 2026?
Yes. Bookers, publicists, radio producers and music supervisors still ask for an EPK or a one-sheet because it is the quickest way to judge an act they do not know. Many submission forms have a field for the link.
Build yours free
Open Stage, pick one of the 41 templates, fill the sections and publish a hosted link in one sitting. Free, no card and no time limit. Start at stage.groovegainer.com. Plans are on the pricing page. Releasing something soon? The release checklist shows when to send the kit.
