Electronic Press Kit Commentary 24102224 SHR4C007R~002
Chloe Thomsen 24102224 Word Count: 1650
Introduction
Electronic Press Kits (EPKs) are marketing strategies for artists of all kinds (Straub, 2024). They are designed as a ‘home base’ for artists’ contact details, portfolio work, and other relevant information. Electronic Press Kits also give artists an opportunity to promote their brand through graphic design and photographs, giving the reader an idea of the artists’ personality alongside the professional layout.
It is also important to consider the audience of an EPK. The target audience for a film music composer’s EPK is likely to be film directors and producers, therefore a film composer’s EPK may contain film-specific language and a focus on efficiency and quality over mood and aesthetic. This is disparate to what (for example) an RnB band’s EPK would look like, so both EPKs would need to pertain to their respective industry opportunities.
Artist Bio
Artist bios are short descriptions of artists/bands that usually appear at the top of an EPK and are the first thing that the reader sees (Indeed Career Guide, 2024). This is what makes them critical to an artist’s branding. I limited myself to 30 words, so that readers can quickly gather information about me. I also used three adjectives “dynamic”, “skilled” and “efficient” purposefully to create a mood of professional creativity that is specifically desirable for composers. Using the word “efficient” instead of “logical” or “methodical” gives the impression that I can create good quality work within a short period of time, which is an important skill as composers are often given strict and tight deadlines to meet during various jobs (Hoffmann, 2018).
I also refrain from limiting myself to certain styles of music, mentioning in my extended bio that I have “developed skills in a range of genres and styles, from 80s dance music to romantic-style piano”. This is effective as it portrays me as more versatile than composers who may specialise in particular ways. However, I do go on to mention that I take a “more specialised approach to orchestral scores”, which caters to more specific requests from directors, however is a commonly used genre in film music (Aglaganov.com, 2024), and so mentioning this wouldn’t limit many career prospects, if any.
Media
The use of photos, background images and colours are important in an EPK to convey the artists’ aesthetic and personality (Apple Music, n.d.). Normally, composers’ – specifically film composers’ – EPKs are sleeker and more neutral toned. However, I wanted to take a different approach by using retro colours and illustrative backgrounds, as inspired by library music artist ‘Sarah, the Illstrumentalist’. This will make my EPK stand out, setting myself and my work apart from others’.
A next step that I could take with my EPK would be improving the promotional photos that I have used. Making them more cohesive with the website design and colour choices would make my page seem more professional and ‘put together’, and therefore more likely to appeal to directors.
Reviews, Info and Links
Throughout my EPK, I mention my musical experiences. These tell the reader that I am well-versed in many musical scenarios. I also mention my musical studies through GCSE and A-Level, highlighting my extensive music theory knowledge, which is a rare, however desirable, quality for composers within the film industry (Stein, 2023).
I have also added some testimonials I have received from some of my previous projects. They are all positive reviews, which gives the impression that I am a reliable and efficient worker with lasting industry relationships. These also prove that my work is received well among film industry professionals.
Additionally, I included links to my professional Instagram account to help readers find my social media. To grow my following and outreach, I aim to branch out to other social media apps such as YouTube, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Furthermore, I could release my music on streaming apps and add these to my EPK, making it easier for industry professionals to access my music. Not only would this improve my EPK going forward, but marketing myself using different platforms gives me the opportunity to build an audience of listeners and reach more industry professionals (Spideraf.com, 2024).
I have also included a ‘Contact Me’ form at the bottom of the page to streamline communication between myself and potential employers. This will ensure that any contact attempts will be seen to efficiently, so employers find it easy to communicate.
Design
For the design of the site, I wanted to take a more unconventional branding approach and use bright retro colours and shapes to represent myself. It is more common that composers (especially film composers) use simpler, minimalistic layouts and colours to advertise themselves. This has its advantages, however due to the rise in social media marketing, ‘standing out’ within the industry may have more positive repercussions than negative (The Flute View, 2023). For example, Mark Mothersbaugh has developed a persona separate from the stereotypical ‘film composer’, both through his marketing, sound and overall career, and he is certainly well-known and successful.
However, using these colours and layout designs could have negative repercussions. Directors may interpret the illustrations as unprofessional, hindering the chances of employment. Things like this are, however, subjective. Composers such as Sarah, the Illstrumentalist and Mark Mothersbaugh are both successful composers with non-conventional marketing styles. If anything, their individualism is much of the reason for their success.
Collaboration
After reaching a point where I was happy with the website, I decided to get some feedback from my peers. To make this as beneficial as possible, I asked a range of different people – non-musicians as well as experienced musicians, and my sister, who studies graphic design.
My non-musician peers picked up on the site design and how it would “stand out” compared to other composer EPKs, particularly with the usage of bright colours and an illustrative background style. They also mentioned how the promotional photos, however quite professional, didn’t really fit the theme of the EPK. They suggested a more colourful approach, perhaps with more natural backgrounds. However, one peer noted how the ‘Contact Me’ form was at the bottom of the page. They said that this was an intelligent placement, as the reader is given the chance to read through all the information before making the decision to reach out.
My musician peers focused more on the wording of my artist bios and explanations of my previous experiences. One peer agreed that my choice of words (“dynamic”, “skilled”, “efficient”) was appropriate, and displayed my desirable professional qualities well without limiting the range of my practices. However, another debated that these adjectives are quite vague, and to some readers may sound too generic. After further discussing this, we decided that the design of the website paired with my extended artist bio made up for the generic-sounding adjectives, as a sense of personality and ‘branding’ was being conveyed through other elements such as these. Additionally, they appreciated the ‘Instrumental Experience’ section of the site, notably how it ranges from my instrumental ability to explanations about my past performances and national awards. These are quite relevant experiences, and they give me more credibility as a musician, which is what makes this section of my EPK successful.
I also asked my sister, who studies graphic design. She mentioned how the colour choices were intriguing and conveyed a sense of personality, or ‘brand’, and that the layout of each section was well thought-out. She noted that I have presented myself as a trustworthy, experienced musician through sections such as “Instrumental Experience” and “Recently…”, alongside the extended artist bio. This feedback was helpful, as it allowed me to understand how my EPK comes across from the reader’s point of view, as opposed to my own.
However, my sister also mentioned how the colours of the text in places were difficult to read because of clashes between the colours. This would be a simple fix as I drew and coloured the background myself. I could also change the font colours of the difficult-to-read text, which would rectify this issue as well.
A comment that most of the groups made, however, was that the ‘Commissions’ page seemed under-developed because of the lack of social media links. As mentioned previously, ‘branching out’ to other social platforms would increase my reach as a composer and give my brand more of a solid foundation. This will be the next step in my self-marketing strategy.
Conclusion
Overall, I am happy with my EPK. I have established a brand with an aesthetic, and I have included a lot of portfolio work and information about my relevant experience. As my career builds, I will add relevant new promotional photos and portfolio work, updating my site as appropriate.
I aimed to advertise myself to film directors and film industry workers, which I achieved with my own understanding of working with directors and knowing what they expect. This way, I was able to cater to their wants with my EPK: efficiency, quality and understanding. I also wanted my EPK to be quite malleable, as I understand that my career will be fluid, and grow in different directions. I also have an interest in library music, which I kept in mind when designing the layout and branding of the site. My retro aesthetic would serve as a good, solid identity for both my film music compositions and my library music endeavours in the future.
However, I acknowledge that there are areas in which to grow my professional reach and, in turn, my EPK. For example, gaining more experience within the film music industry, growing my social media across different platforms, and refining my ‘brand’ further with more relevant and professional photos and videos. My Electronic Press Kit, secondary to being a ‘musical CV’, is a record of my achievements throughout my career (Heckmann, 2022). I designed it with the intention to grow and change, however I am certain that I have built myself a good foundation.
Bibliography
Aglaganov.com. (2024). Aglaganov. Blog. Rhythm and Melody: What are the most popular genres of music used in cinema? Available online: https://aglaganov.com/blog/article/rhythm-and-melody-what-are-the-most-popular- genres-of-music-used-in-cinema. [Accessed 26/04/25].
Apple Music. (n.d.). Why an Electronic Press Kit matters – Apple Music for Artists. Available online: https://artists.apple.com/support/1121-why-an-electronic-press-kit- matters. [Accessed 26/04/25].
Heckmann, C. (2022). What is an EPK – A creator’s guide to the electronic press kit. Available online: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-an-epk-definition/. [Accessed 26/04/25].
Hoffmann, R. (2018). What is an adequate time for writing the score? Available online: https://www.robin-hoffmann.com/tutorials/what-is-an-adequate-time-frame- for-writing-the-score/. [Accessed 26/04/25].
Indeed Career Guide. (2024). How to Write an Artist Bio (With Tips and Examples). Available online: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to- write-artist-bio. [Accessed 26/04/25].
Spideraf.com. (2024). Leveraging Cross-Platform Ads to Reach Your Target Audience. Available online: https://spideraf.com/articles/maximizing-your-advertising- strategy-the-benefits-of-cross-platform-advertising-for-reaching-your-ideal- customers. [Accessed 26/04/25].
Stein, T. (2023). Film Scoring: How to Write and Produce Music for Film and TV. Available online: https://www.careersinmusic.com/film-scoring/. [Accessed 26/04/25].
Straub, J. (2024). What is an EPK? Electronic Press Kits for Filmmakers. Boords. Available online: https://boords.com/blog/what-is-an-epk-electronic-press-kits-for- filmmakers. [Accessed 26/04/25].
The Flute View. (2023). The Importance of Having an Electronic Press Kit. Available online: https://thefluteview.com/2023/05/the-importance-of-having-an-electronic- press- kit/#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20vital%20tool,matter%20most%20in%20the%20industry. [Accessed 26/04/25].
