EPK vs. One Sheet – And Why Every Independent Artist Needs One!

As an independent artist you’re a small fish in a big sea of talented musicians. Today’s music industry is extremely competitive, and you need to take advantage of every tool available to get noticed. Talent alone won’t cut it! You need to stand out and look professional, look like you’re ready from the get-go. Connecting with those who can get you airplay, stage time, playlist placement, and record deals is much easier when they can see what you’re all about without having to search multiple websites and platforms. Enter the EPK (Electronic Press Kit) and One Sheet.

What is an EPK? What is a One Sheet? Are they different? Do you need both? How do these benefit you?

Let’s dive in and answer these questions and more.

What is an EPK?

An Electronic Press Kit (more commonly called an EPK) is basically your digital resume. This “resume” acts as a one stop shop for those industry professionals that you NEED to know who you are. Typically an EPK is a document or webpage that allows industry professionals, promoters, or media outlets to know what they need to know without putting forth much effort. That’s right, making it easier for them is in your best interest. Ok, so we know why and EPK is important, but what should you include in your EPK?

An effective EPK should include:

Artist Bio (Short and Long Version) – Some want the down and dirty and some want your life story. It’s best just to have the information there, as the O’Jays said “give the people what they want”. Some forms for events and such have character limits, so a shorter version may be necessary.

Professional Photos – include various sizes and styles, remember different uses require different formats and sizes.

Links to Music and Videos – Honestly this should go with out saying, after all your music and talent is what your promoting here.

Press and Testimonials – Share the good news, if others have already enjoyed and reviewed your craft, chances are high that others will as well. Including what others have said about you will help create credibility and a buzz about your story and music.

Performance Footage – This is a must, especially if you are applying for a live event.

Contact Information – You want them to be able to get a hold of you right?

Social Media Links – Include links to the platforms that you are most active on. These will likely be the most up to date representation of what you have going on. These will also give the viewer an idea of what your fans are saying and how engaged they are.

Downloadable Logo and Artwork – Providing high quality artwork allows media sources to easily get images representing you out there. Of course you want people to recognize these, this is part of your branding. More exposure means more recognition.

Tour Dates and Notable Achievements – This is your chance to brag a little, include any awards, nominations, or whatever accomplishments that speak to your wins. Tell about your experience, if you’ve had live gigs, that equals experience, remember this is your resume.

Your EPK is the first impression many will have of you. If talents agents, journalists, event coordinators, or whoever the reader may be, thinks that it is sloppy or outdated, this is likely to lead to missed opportunities.

What is a One Sheet?

Hint, it’s kinda in the name. Yes, it’s pretty much what it sounds like, a single page snapshot if you will, usually of a particular project. Usually it’s something like an album release or upcoming tour, something current that you are trying to promote. There are some similarities to an EPK, but they aren’t exactly the same.

An effective One Sheet should include:

Brief Artist Bio – This is where those shorter versions of the bios comes in handy.

Short Description of Current Projects – Tell ‘em what you have going on. People are going to want to know what you’re working on. This is likely the reason you are sending a One Sheet.

Cover Art/ Hi-Res Photos – Remember you want these to be clean but also eye catching.

Notable Achievements or Press Quotes – Insert humble brag, you’re trying to impress the reader. Showcase what you have accomplished.

Links to Stream/Download of Release – It’s suggested that you provide an easy way for the reader to find your most recent work, especially if you are promoting and new song or album.

RYIL (Recommend if You Like) – Compare your style or music to a singer or band that one would recognize, so they can get a feel for what you do.

Contact Info – If you have made a great One Sheet your reader is going to want this.

While One Sheets aren’t as in-depth as an EPK, they are very useful for professionals who are limited on time and don’t really need your whole life story to make their decisions. One Sheets are likely to be more suiting for professionals like bloggers, radio stations, and other media outlets.

Now…Do You Need Both?

Yes, yes you do. I’ll explain.

Your EPK tells your whole story and should be ever evolving and changing as your career grows. These should be updated regularly.

The One Sheet, well that a down and dirty right to point promo piece. These are often associated with a specific project, so it really doesn’t need to be updated unless you are using these for short form EPK.

Having both helps solidify that you are serious about your career and that you are willing to go the extra mile and do whatever it takes to be successful. It also shows that you are organized and professional.

Just a Few Tips for Amazing EPKs and One Sheets

Make it Visually Appealing
- Keep it clean. It’s really kind of a balancing act, it should be informative, but not cluttered. Don’t use fancy fonts or obnoxious colors that are difficult to read.
Make Sure Your Links Work
- Industry professionals are busy and get approached by artists all the time wanting them to play their music, write a blog, or record a podcast and most won’t take the time to hunt down your material if your links are broken.
Use High Resolution Images
- There are very few things that say I am not professional like blurry, pixelated images, cover art, and photos. These MUST be high quality and print (post) ready if you want the professionals to consider promoting your material.
Update Regularly
- This is a living document, your digital resume and needs to be kept current. If you’re using a One Sheet as your short form EPK, keep it current as well.
Be Direct and Concise
- No need to be clever and creative here, your work should speak for itself.
Hire a Professional if Possible
- I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, first impressions matter. This is probably going to be the first impression of you for many industry professionals. If you’re looking to hire someone, Red Dirt Disciple (also a huge supporter of independent artists) is someone who can help you out with this.

Where Should You Host EPKs and One Sheets?

There are a few places that you are most likely going to want to have your EPK and One Sheet for ease of find and sharing them.

Your Website
- Your website should have a page that is dedicated to information that the media/press is going to want.
Google Drive and/or Dropbox
- These are great options to store an EPK or One Sheet, they are easily shareable if you don’t try to store too much information on them. The best part though is that they are free.
EPK Platforms
- There are platforms that are design to create and host tools such as EPKs and One Sheets. A couple such platforms are Bandzoogle and Reverb Nation.

Final Thoughts

Whether you are pitching to a blog, trying to get air time, or looking to light up a stage, you are going to need a professional, clean, and attractive EPK/One Sheet. Remember the small fish in a big sea analogy? A great EPK or One Sheet is a great tool to help you stand out in the sea of talent.

Beatz Farm was created to support independent artists like you. Not only do we want to create exposure for your music, we want to provide or guide you to the resources you need to elevate your brand or career. If you need help creating your EPK or One Sheet, give us a shout we got you!