Creating an Effective Press Kit - Part 3

We've established that you must have an 8x10 promotional photo and artist bio sheet in your press kit.  So what else do you need to make sure your recipient (record company, media, distribution label, booking agent, etc.) takes notice?

The next step is to include your music, of course!  Every press kit must have your CD in it, whether it's a full-length album or just a demo.  If you only have an EP or a demo, that's okay, but make sure that it is professionally recorded, not just a quick, do-it-yourself job.  And demos should only contain your very best work - just a few songs will suffice.  Create some cover art for the demo, if you haven't already, or have a professional designer take on the task. 

After the CD comes the press coverage, usually in the forms of album or gig reviews.  In Part 4, I'll highlight how you can obtain more press before sending out your press kits and how everything should be laid out.

Stacy Ramsey
Consulting Writer, YouMusic.com