How to Create an EPK That Gets You Booked: 7 Things Every UK Artist Needs (2026 Checklist)

Atmospheric live music performance in a dark venue with warm amber lighting

ALT-NEXT-FLIGHT / SINGLE-PROFILE

WHERE MUSICIANS TAKE FLIGHT

Your electronic press kit is not just a folder of links.

It is your booking runway.

A good EPK helps a promoter, booker, festival organiser or radio programmer understand who you are, hear your music, see your live presence and contact you : without having to search for anything.

For emerging UK artists, the strongest EPKs are:

  • Mobile-friendly
  • Easy to scan
  • Short and current
  • Visual without being cluttered
  • Built around your best music
  • Clear about what happens next

There is no universal EPK template that guarantees a booking. But there is a reliable standard: make the decision easy.

THE 60-SECOND TEST

Open your EPK on your phone.

Can someone understand these five things within one minute?

  1. Who you are
  2. Where you are based
  3. What your music sounds like
  4. What you are like live
  5. How to book or contact you

If not, your EPK needs another pass.

A web-based EPK should be your main version. A PDF can be useful as a downloadable press pack, but it should not be the only format. Pages are easier to update, easier to view on mobile and easier to share in an email.

Screenshot collage showing different electronic press kit layouts for musicians

1. START WITH A CLEAR, MOBILE-FIRST HERO SECTION

The first screen matters.

Do not make a promoter scroll through a cinematic animation before they can find your name. Lead with the information they need.

YOUR TOP-OF-PAGE CHECKLIST

  • Artist or band name
  • City or region
  • Genre or sound description
  • One strong press image
  • One-sentence artist pitch
  • Primary music link
  • Clear booking or contact button

Your pitch should be specific enough to place you.

For example:

London-based electronic artist blending UK garage rhythms with atmospheric R&B vocals.

That is more useful than:

A unique artist breaking boundaries and changing the game.

Avoid vague claims. Describe the sound, the location and the current direction.

Keep the design fast and readable. Use clear headings, generous spacing and buttons that are easy to tap. Your EPK should work on a smaller phone as well as a laptop.

2. WRITE A SHORT BIO THAT DOES A JOB

Your bio is not your autobiography.

It should give a reader enough context to understand your music and decide whether you fit their platform, event or programme.

Prepare three versions:

  • One-line bio: around one sentence
  • Short bio: roughly 100–150 words
  • Extended bio: no more than two or three short paragraphs

Write in the third person. Start with your sound, not your entire personal history.

A SIMPLE BIO STRUCTURE

Line one: Who you are, where you are based and what you make.

Line two: What shapes your sound or creative identity.

Line three: Your most relevant current activity : a release, live show, radio support or collaboration.

Final line: What is happening next.

Only include achievements you can verify. If you have not played a festival, do not imply that you have. If a release is planned but not confirmed, label it as upcoming rather than presenting it as available now.

A strong short bio gives a programmer useful language they can reuse in a listing, newsletter or radio introduction.

3. PUT YOUR BEST MUSIC FIRST

Your music should be easy to find near the top of the page.

Do not add your entire catalogue and expect a busy booker to work through it. Curate.

MUSIC CHECKLIST

  • Add two to four focus tracks
  • Place your strongest or most relevant track first
  • Embed music players where possible
  • Include a direct streaming link
  • Add a clean edit if you are pitching radio or public events
  • Label unreleased music clearly
  • Check every player works without a login
  • Include release dates and correct track titles

Choose music according to the opportunity.

A promoter may need to hear the track that best represents your live set. A radio programmer may need the clean version of your latest single. A journalist may want the release you are currently promoting.

Make the next action obvious:

LISTEN TO THE FOCUS TRACK

Then provide links to the platforms that matter to your audience, such as Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, Bandcamp or YouTube.

For more background on EPK structure, WaterBear’s guide to creating an EPK covers the core materials artists commonly include.

4. INCLUDE THREE STRONG, USABLE PHOTOS

Three strong photos are more useful than twelve average ones.

Your image set should show consistency while giving promoters options for different layouts.

INCLUDE:

  • A main press shot for listings and editorial use
  • A live performance image showing presence and energy
  • A creative or editorial image that reflects your visual identity

Provide landscape, portrait and square versions where possible. Make the files downloadable and label them clearly:

  • ArtistName_Press_01.jpg
  • ArtistName_Live_01.jpg
  • ArtistName_Portrait_01.jpg

Avoid blurry screenshots, old photos that no longer represent you or images with heavy text overlays. If a promoter wants to create a poster, they need a clean image they can actually use.

Your visual identity does not need to be expensive. It does need to feel intentional.

Aviation-inspired live music event flyer with dark colours, gold accents and event information

5. SHOW THAT YOU CAN DELIVER LIVE

A studio recording shows what you sound like.

Live footage shows what a booker is taking a chance on.

Include one strong live video near the middle or top of your EPK. It could be:

  • A full live song
  • A tight 60–90 second performance edit
  • A well-recorded DJ or producer set
  • A rehearsal clip with clear sound, if no show footage exists yet

Prioritise sound quality. A shaky phone video with strong audience energy can be more convincing than a polished video that hides the performance.

Show the room. Show the crowd response. Show how you move through the song.

If your setup has specific requirements, add a simple tech rider or stage plot. Include:

  • Number of performers
  • Instruments or equipment
  • Inputs and microphones
  • Monitoring needs
  • Backline requirements
  • Approximate set length
  • DJ, solo, duo or full-band format

This saves time and makes you easier to book.

6. MAKE CONTACT AND AVAILABILITY OBVIOUS

Do not make someone hunt for your email address.

Place your primary booking contact near the top and repeat it at the bottom.

CONTACT CHECKLIST

  • Dedicated booking email
  • Management or agent contact, if applicable
  • Press contact, if different
  • Base location
  • Typical performance format
  • Approximate set length
  • Upcoming dates
  • Booking availability
  • Links to your main social platforms

Use labels. A promoter should know whether they are contacting you for a booking, interview, feature or collaboration.

A simple line works:

BOOKINGS: bookings@yourartistname.com

If you are self-managed, say so. That is normal for emerging artists. Professionalism comes from being clear, responsive and dependable : not from pretending to have a large team.

7. ADD SOCIAL PROOF, BUT KEEP IT HONEST

Social proof helps someone understand your momentum.

It does not need to mean enormous numbers.

Useful proof can include:

  • A named radio play
  • A verified playlist placement
  • A review or feature
  • A support slot
  • A confirmed event appearance
  • A chart position
  • A meaningful audience milestone
  • A strong live-room response

Add two or three short quotes rather than a wall of praise. Attribute every quote to its source and link to the original coverage where possible.

Stats should include dates. A follower count without a date becomes stale quickly.

If you have a verified appearance on the MFM Chart, you can include the track title, position and relevant week. Do not add a chart claim until you have checked the current listing.

The same rule applies to MARVO FM events. Link to a confirmed event listing, not an unverified announcement.

Your social links should show active, respectful and relevant communication. Only include platforms you actually use.

EPK EXAMPLES: WHAT TO STUDY

Do not copy another artist’s identity. Study how they organise information.

These published examples show different approaches:

The best EPK examples are not necessarily the most elaborate. They make the important information easy to locate.

YOUR MARVO FM FLIGHT PLAN

Think of your EPK as a continuous journey.

GATE 35: Prepare your materials. Choose your focus tracks, write your bio, organise your images and check your contact details.

TAKEOFF: Send the EPK to the right people. Personalise your emails. Mention why your sound fits their event, venue, show or audience.

CRUISE CONTROL: Keep moving. Update the page when you release music, play a significant show, receive coverage or gain verified momentum. Your EPK should reflect your current position, not an old version of your career.

LANDING GEAR: Make the practical details easy. Confirm your set-up, timings, fees, travel requirements and technical needs. Arrive ready for the opportunity.

That is the point of a flight plan: not to decorate the journey, but to help you move with direction.

MARVO FM connects discovery, music, radio, events and community. If you are building your network around independent music, explore MARVO FM events, discover artists through the talent roster, and learn about the MARVO FM Passport as a way to stay connected to the wider community.

MARVO FM Passport graphic representing membership and participation in the music community

THE 2026 PRE-SEND CHECKLIST

Before you send your EPK, check every box:

  • The page loads quickly on mobile
  • Your name, location and genre are visible immediately
  • Your best track plays without a login
  • Your bio is short, current and written in third person
  • You have three strong, downloadable photos
  • Your live footage has clear sound
  • Your contact email is easy to find
  • Your upcoming dates are accurate
  • Your quotes, stats and chart claims are verified
  • Your social links work
  • Your tech rider is attached if needed
  • You have tested every link on phone and desktop
  • The page has a clear next step

Review your EPK before every major pitch.

A new release, new show or new piece of coverage can change the story. Keep the page moving with you.

EDITORIAL CHECK: The official MARVO FM tagline is WHERE MUSICIANS TAKE FLIGHT. If the wording “Where Music Takes Flight” appears in MARVO FM editorial or promotional copy, flag it for correction before publication.

READY FOR TAKEOFF?

Build one clear link.

Make it easy to hear you, see you and book you.

Then send it to the right runway.

WHERE MUSICIANS TAKE FLIGHT.