Are press kits
still
relevant?
Yes. But the format has completely changed, and most artists haven't kept up.
If you're asking whether press kits are still relevant, the answer is yes, but the format has completely changed. The printed folder stuffed with headshots and CDs is dead. The digital EPK, a clean web page with your bio, music, and booking info, is more important than ever. Here's why.
Why press kits matter more now than before social media
Before social media, getting discovered was the hard part. A DJ had to rely on word of mouth, physical demos, or knowing the right people. The barrier to getting in front of a promoter was high. Now that barrier is essentially zero, every artist has access to every venue and promoter through Instagram, email, or a Google search.
The new hard part is standing out in an inbox. A promoter who receives a hundred DJ pitches a week has five seconds to evaluate each one. In those five seconds, they're not evaluating talent, they're evaluating whether the artist has done the basic professional work of presenting themselves clearly. A well-structured digital EPK makes those five seconds work in your favour.
The result is that press kits have become more important precisely because discovery has become easier. Easier discovery means more competition for every booking. More competition means promoters have less time to evaluate each artist carefully. Less evaluation time means the artists with the clearest, most professional presentation win, regardless of whether they're actually more talented than the competition.
Your EPK is the document that does this professional work for you. Without it, you're relying on a promoter to piece together your story from scattered links and social profiles. With it, you've answered every question they could ask before they even open your pitch email.
This dynamic is well-documented in independent music industry commentary. Publications like Hypebot and platforms like CD Baby have consistently noted that artists who maintain a professional, up-to-date digital presence convert more opportunities at every stage of their career, from local club bookings to festival applications. The EPK is a core part of that professional infrastructure, not an optional add-on.
If you're still unsure what to actually put on your EPK, see our full breakdown of what to include in an EPK. It covers every element with practical guidance on how to present each one.
Why artists think press kits are dead (and why they're wrong)
The "press kits are dead" myth comes from confusing format with function. The printed folder is dead. The PDF attachment is nearly dead, it's unwieldy, can't embed audio, and doesn't load reliably on mobile. But the function, presenting yourself professionally to industry contacts, is more essential than ever. The format is now a web page. The function hasn't changed at all.
Artists who've decided "press kits are dead" have typically reached this conclusion because they haven't adapted to the new format. They're comparing the digital EPK to the old printed folder and finding the printed folder wanting, which is correct. But they're missing the point. The digital EPK isn't a digital version of the printed folder. It's a completely different tool built for the internet age.
The artists who aren't adapting are the ones getting ignored. A promoter in 2024 who receives a pitch with an Instagram link and no EPK will move on. A promoter who receives a pitch with a clean EPK link will open it. The difference in booking outcomes over a year of consistent outreach is significant.
Social media hasn't replaced the EPK, it's made it more necessary. Social profiles show content and follower metrics. EPKs show professional credentials and booking information. These are complementary tools for different stages of the booking relationship, and you need both.
What makes a digital EPK work in 2024
It loads instantly
A page that takes three seconds to load loses a significant percentage of visitors before they see anything. Your EPK needs to be on a fast, reliable platform. This is one reason PDFs and self-built WordPress sites often underperform, they're slower and less reliable than purpose-built platforms.
It plays music without redirects
Embedded audio that plays directly on the page, not a link to SoundCloud or Spotify. The promoter shouldn't have to open a new tab to hear your music. If they have to, most won't. This is the key functional difference between a digital EPK and a Linktree, see our full comparison in our guide on is Linktree enough for musicians.
It has a clear bio and genre
Within the first five seconds of arriving at your EPK, a promoter should know exactly who you are and what you play. Two to three sentences. No ambiguity. If they have to read three paragraphs to figure out your genre, the EPK isn't doing its job.
It shows past gigs
A list of venues you've played tells a promoter that you're a working, reliable artist, not an unknown risk. Even if the list is short, having it there is better than not having it. Update it after every gig.
It makes booking easy
A visible, one-click booking contact. This is the most important element on the page. Everything else is context. This is the conversion point. Make it obvious.
Who is actually using EPKs?
Not just major artists with labels and management teams. Independent DJs at every stage of their career use EPKs to get booked. Local promoters use them to evaluate artists for their monthly nights. Booking agents use them to pitch artists to venues and festivals. Festival coordinators use them to curate lineups. Venue managers use them when they need to fill a slot at short notice.
The common thread is that anyone who makes booking decisions regularly has learned that an EPK is the most efficient way to evaluate an artist quickly. If you want to be taken seriously at any level of the industry, local club night to regional festival, a complete EPK is a baseline expectation, not a bonus.
For a complete breakdown of exactly what should be on yours, see our guide on what to include in an EPK. It covers every element in detail.
Applying for festivals and larger events specifically requires an EPK that goes slightly further than a standard booking page. Festival programmers are evaluating dozens or hundreds of artists at a time, often in a single session, so clarity and speed of communication matter even more. Make sure your genre is instantly readable, your best recording is the first thing they hear, and your past performances include any notable events that demonstrate you can handle a larger audience. For more on the process of putting together your pitch materials quickly, see our guide on how to create a press kit fast.
Frequently asked questions
Is a press kit the same as an EPK?
Yes, EPK (Electronic Press Kit) is just the modern, digital version of a press kit. The terms are interchangeable in the music industry today. When someone asks for your press kit, they mean your EPK: a shareable digital page, not a physical folder or PDF attachment.
Do I need a press kit if I'm just starting out?
Yes, especially if you're just starting out. It signals that you're serious about your career, which helps you get those first bookings. A DJ with no EPK and no track record is a pure unknown quantity. A DJ with no track record but a complete, professional EPK at least signals intent and organisation.
Can I just use a PDF press kit?
PDFs have significant drawbacks: they don't load reliably on mobile, they can't embed audio, they can't be updated without resending, and they sit in email inboxes as attachments that often go unopened. A live URL is always better, it's always current, always accessible, and can do things a PDF simply cannot.
How often should I update my EPK?
Update it after every significant gig by adding the venue to your past events list. Do a full review every three to six months: check that your bio still reflects your current direction, that your photos are current, and that your featured track is the best representation of where your sound is right now. An EPK that's visibly maintained tells a promoter that you're an active, working artist. One that hasn't been touched in two years tells the opposite story.
Many artists use a single structured page that combines bio, music, and past shows in one link. BookedKit is built for that.
BookedKit is the modern EPK platform, a digital page with your bio, music, photos, past gigs, and booking link. Shareable from any device, always up to date.
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