We see plenty of electronic press kits (EPKs) over here at Monster Riff. From Google Drive folders to dedicated web pages, we’ve seen EPKs in just about every format imaginable.
These EPKs are essential for helping journalists from around the world gather the most important information about your band, so you’d think most of them would be in good shape by the time they arrive.
But I’ve received countless EPKs that could use some work.
Why Stoner Rock/Doom EPKs Matter
If you’re a band or a solo artist, here’s an important fact to remember: Your EPK is often a journalist’s first impression of your band.
Yes, I’ll listen to your album (or any other music you send along), but I’ll often leaf through your album artwork, photographs, discography, and band bio before hitting “play.”
And if any of it looks cheap or rushed, it could negatively influence my eventual listening experience—no matter how good your music is.
I try to avoid it. I try to remember that the music comes first (and it really does), but I’m only human. A band, remember, is essentially a small business, and everything inside your EPK is essentially part of your overall branding.
If a single element of that branding is off, it influences how people perceive your most important product—your music.
But that’s not the only reason a solid EPK is important.
An EPK is also an opportunity for a journalist to dig deep into your band. The more details you have in that single resource, the less time I need to spend crawling the internet and scouring your social media pages to glean details about your band (like who your singer or guitarist is) that may or may not be outdated.
More importantly, though, a thoroughly written and up-to-date EPK helps journalists write robust, detailed reviews of your music. And that’s invaluable to both their readers and your future fans.
How to Create A Great Stoner Rock/Doom EPK: What You Should Include
If you’re building an EPK for your Stoner Rock band, be sure to include the following:
1. Detailed Band Bio
I want to know everything about your band. That includes:
- What’s your band’s contact information?
- Who is your band influenced by?
- What genre or style does the band perform?
- Where was the band formed?
- Where is the band currently located?
- Who are the band’s past members?
- Who are the band’s current members?
- What were the past members’ responsibilities?
- What are the current members’ responsibilities?
- Who are the band’s associated acts (what bands do the members also perform in)?
- What awards has the band received, if any?
- What are your social media profiles?
- What is your band website, if one exists?
2. Detailed Discography
I want to know the details about your:
- Albums
- EPs
- Singles
For each release, be sure to include:
- Release date
- Label
- Project credits
- Liner notes
3. Lyrics
You should include unabridged lyrics for each album, EP, and single within your EPK so journalists have an easier time understanding what each song is about, and as a handy reference while working on your music. Depending on the layout of your EPK, you could include this in your discography section, though that’s not completely necessary.
4. Artwork
If you have any releases out, you’ve almost certainly accumulated some artwork. Journalists want:
- Album covers
- EP covers
- Single covers
- Logos
Be sure to include the artist credit for each asset!
Important note: In addition to having these images for reference, journalists may also want to download these files for use in their own content. Remember to upload these assets as high res images (or as high quality as you can get them) and keep them in a file format (like a .JPG or .PNG) that journalists will be comfortable with.
5. Band Photos
Your band photos are important fodder for articles. If you can, find some budget for a professional photographer to shoot your band. As with your other graphics, your photos should be high res and downloadable as .JPGs or .PNGs. Note: You’ll get bonus points if you include captions that explain who each person is in the picture.
6. Music Videos
If you have music videos, include them in your EPK. While it’s fine to include the .mp4 file in your press kit, also include links to the videos on YouTube—if those are available. This will make it easier for journalists to embed this video in their article, and (bonus) you’ll get extra exposure for that YouTube channel.
7. Sample of Past Press Coverage
You don’t necessarily need to include an exhaustive list if you’ve already been covered a handful of times, but you should consider including a few flattering quotes and the name of the publications that wrote them.
8. Upcoming Tour/Concert Dates
While concert dates always have an asterisk in times of COVID, it’s important for journalists and their readers to know when you’re performing live. Be sure to update this section of your EPK regularly, as it will likely be outdated faster than any other section.
9. Other Details
The following bits of information aren’t required, but they’ll win you valuable bonus points—and potentially result in more colorful articles:
- The gear you use
- List of past festivals or tours you’ve joined
- List of your most recent shows
- Current or past sponsorships, if relevant
Pushing Beyond the Electronic Press Kit
Electronic press kits are convenient because they’re electronic. With only a few keystrokes, you can blast your press kit to hundreds of journalists all over the world.
If you really want to stand out, start thinking about physical press kits (something we discussed in our article on releasing an album without a label).
Your physical press kit should include everything we mentioned above, but it should also go a step further.
It could also include:
- Band t-shirts
- Band stickers
- Band poster
- Other band swag (keychains, bottle openers, patches, etc.)
And if you really want to stand out, add something even more creative. Our friends from Seum have their own hot sauce (which you may occasionally spot in the background of our videos). But you could also add your band logo or album cover to custom cans of beer (think of the Iron Maiden Trooper beer), or you could create a behind-the-scenes DVD of your latest show or studio session.
Pushing beyond the typical requirements will turn your press kit into an experience—something that may endear your band to journalists and other members of the music community.
Find Additional Support for Stoner Rock/Doom EPKs and More
If you’re still struggling to develop your electronic press kit, reach out to Monster Riff. We can help you develop a sleek, comprehensive, and well-written press kit that resonates with readers. Email pat@monsterriff.com for details!
For even more support, downlod the Stoner Rock Band’s Guide to Marketing for a primer on everything related to your band’s marketing!
Download the Stoner Rock Band’s Guide to Marketing
