Getting your music out
What to Put in an EPK for Your Next Single
The quick answer
An EPK, or electronic press kit, puts your music and key details in one easy-to-share place. For a single, start with a listening link, the song title and release date, a short artist bio, a photo, cover art, and a contact email. Check that someone else can open everything before you send it.
Start with these six things
Think about someone opening your link between other messages. They need to hear the song, understand who you are, and find the details without asking you for five more files.
CD Baby’s EPK guide recommends music, a bio, photos, and contact details, with other material suited to the person you’re approaching. Here’s a small starting kit for one song.
| Include | Keep it simple |
|---|---|
| The song | One clearly labeled listening link. |
| Release details | Artist name, song title, release date, and credits. |
| A short bio | A few sentences about you and your sound. |
| An artist photo | A clear downloadable image with its photo credit. |
| Cover art | The approved image for this single. |
| A way to reach you | A contact email you actually check. |
Give the song a story someone can use
Write a short paragraph about this release. Try answering three questions: what does it sound like, what sparked it, and what happened while making it? Pick a detail that belongs to this song. A changed lyric or a sound you recorded yourself is more useful than calling the track “groundbreaking.”
Here’s a made-up example: “Mira Lane makes guitar-led pop in a spare bedroom. Her new single, ‘Last Bus Home,’ started with a voice note after a late shift. The song pairs a quiet first verse with a noisy, full-band chorus. It comes out October 16, 2026.”
That example doesn’t need a streaming milestone or a glowing review. It gives a writer something concrete to work with. Replace every detail with your own, and keep the full life story for a longer bio if someone asks.
- Artist: [the name you release music under].
- New single: [song title], out [release date].
- Sound: [a short, specific description].
- Story: [one true detail about how the song came together].
- Listen and get in touch: [song link] and [contact email].
Make the right files easy to spot
Put copies of the files you want to share in a separate folder for this release. Choose the finished artwork and photos you’ve agreed can be used for press. Add the photographer’s name and any agreed usage notes beside each photo.
Use filenames that still make sense after a download. For the fictional example above, MiraLane_LastBusHome_Cover.jpg and MiraLane_PressPhoto_Credit-Photographer.jpg tell someone what they’re opening. Replace “Photographer” with the actual credit. Keep old artwork and unfinished mixes out of this folder.
Add a small text file with the exact artist name, track title, credits, and contact details. That lets someone copy the spelling instead of typing it from a picture. If a radio host or writer asks for audio, check their requested file type and send the correct version, clearly labeled.
Do this quick check before sending
Open the exact link you plan to send in a signed-out or private browser window. If you chose access for named people only, ask an intended recipient or collaborator with the same access to test it. Check it on a phone too.
Ask a friend to find the song, the release date, and a downloadable photo. Let them try without coaching. If they get stuck, change the label or move the item somewhere easier to find.
- Press play. Is this the right song and the right version?
- Download a photo and the cover. Do the files open?
- Read the release date. Does it agree with your current plan?
- Copy the contact email. Is it spelled correctly?
- Check the visible folder contents. Are they all meant for this recipient?
- Open any social or website links you included. Do they lead to your current pages?
Tell the person why you sent it
Your press kit supports a message. In that message, explain why this song fits the person’s work and what you’re asking for. A local writer, a radio host, and a venue booker may need different details. Put the useful ones first.
If you’re asking about a show, you might add a live clip. If you’re pitching a piece about the song, lead with its story and listening link. Include press quotes only when you have real ones you can accurately credit.
In AirTrax, keep a task list for finishing the kit, the files and links you need, and notes on who you plan to contact. AirTrax account files are private; storing a file there doesn’t create a public press-kit page. Use a suitable sharing service and test the links you send.
Once the song is out, replace any outdated release wording and check the listening link again. Keep the same main press-kit address where possible, so someone returning to it can find the current details.
Common questions
Can I make a press kit without any press coverage?
Yes. Start with your song, a clear introduction, release details, pictures, and a way to contact you. Leave out the press section until you have real coverage to include.
Should I attach the whole press kit to my email?
Check the recipient’s instructions. A main link can keep the message easy to read and lets you update the kit later. If they ask for an attachment, use the format and size they request.
Do I need a new EPK for every single?
You can reuse the same main page and update it for the new song. Check the date, listening link, cover, credits, and story each time. Keep older release files in a separate folder so you don’t send the wrong version.
Where the facts come from
We checked the platform details using these official pages. The plan and examples are our suggestions, so adjust them to fit your music and your time.
Your next move
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