“Writing about music is like dancing about structure” – Unknown
Writing about your self is difficult. Writing about your music is even more durable. However that doesn’t make your artist bio any much less vital. It’s typically the very first thing an journalist, fan, reserving agent, or business professional will have a look at to get to know you past the music.
This information walks you thru a transparent course of that can assist you pull collectively an expert bio. That features what to organize earlier than you write, the best way to construction your bio for various makes use of, and what to incorporate.
Why a powerful bio issues
Your artist bio is vital for 3 fundamental causes. First, it’s the principle supply of reality for the business to get to know you and your music straight from the supply. Second, each replace to your bio is a chance so that you can set the scene behind a launch – sharing the story, individuals, concepts, and inspirations that fueled your undertaking. And third, it’s a spot the place you’ll be able to construct credibility – in a number of hundred phrases you’ll be able to exhibit that you simply take your music significantly and show your success.
5 issues to organize earlier than you write
Don’t begin writing your bio from scratch. You possibly can pace up the drafting course of and guarantee your bio hits all the appropriate factors by getting ready some supplies forward of time:
- All of your catalog metadata: From lyrics and style to trace titles and launch dates, have this data useful to quote in your bio – not less than in your most up-to-date or upcoming launch.
- Resume: This doesn’t need to be a proper doc, however put together a listing of your latest accomplishments and main tasks.
- A story: Making an attempt to cram your life story and your inventive life philosophy into a pair hundred phrases is not going to work. As a substitute, choose a narrative that’s rooted in an upcoming launch, latest objectives, an thought you’ve been obsessing over, or your general artist model. Discover a core narrative factor to construct your bio round.
- A number of readers: When unsure, lean on buddies! Discover a number of buddies or mentors within the music scene that can assist you plan your bio and/or evaluate it as soon as it’s drafted. They’ll present helpful suggestions on whether or not you’re successfully describing your music, hooking the reader, making correct comparisons, and extra.
- Press quotes: Together with robust press quotes can construct credibility inside your bio.
The best way to write your artist bio in 5 steps
Now you’re prepared to begin writing your bio. Observe these steps to get your draft collectively.
Step 1: Lead with who you might be and what you sound like
Hook the reader quick. Lead along with your style, temper, and a sonic reference level, however don’t really feel boxed in by conference, both. You possibly can open with a quote, a metaphor, or a fast story. The objective is to seize a reader’s consideration and shortly set up who you might be and how much music you make.
Step 2: Inform your story
You gained’t have area in your bio to inform your life story, so concentrate on that narrative angle you ready. Anchoring your bio in that story ought to help you seamlessly pivot out to debate accomplishments and the way this story frames your most up-to-date or upcoming launch.
Step 3: Title your influences
Reference two to 4 well-known artist names to assist individuals orient to your sound. The objective is to present the reader context round your music by connecting it with music they know. Be intentional concerning the artists you select – for press functions, embrace not less than one or two up to date artists. Then, in the event you make a playlist round your launch, guarantee these artists are on it, too.
Step 4: Spotlight your achievements
Drawing from the checklist you ready, embrace a number of noteworthy accomplishments, releases, occasions, and extra to exhibit momentum. Right here, you’re aiming to point out, not inform. As a substitute of claiming “a rising fanbase” or “glorious reside reveals” present some key streaming or social media metrics, the variety of reveals you’ve not too long ago performed (and maybe offered out), and so forth. For those who’re very early in your music journey, you’ll be able to share your objectives and the work you’ve put into attaining them.
Step 5: Share your greatest press quotes
You possibly can construct credibility into your bio by together with a collection of press quotes. You possibly can both cleverly weave them into the bio itself or checklist them beneath. For those who’re nonetheless working as much as press protection, ask for quotes from collaborators, buddies, and others. The objective is to realize credibility by demonstrating individuals care about your work.
Step 6: Shut with what’s subsequent
Don’t let your bio finish wanting backward. Shut with one thing your reader can sit up for — an upcoming launch, a tour, a collaboration, no matter’s on the horizon. It alerts that you simply’re nonetheless rising and makes it clear the bio is present. That’s particularly helpful whenever you’re pitching to journalists: give them one thing their viewers can anticipate, and also you’ve simply made their job simpler and your story extra well timed.
Brief, medium, or lengthy? A fast-reference information
Not all bios serve the identical function. For those who adopted the steps above, your bio might be sitting someplace between 250-500 phrases. Edit it down if needed, then work on decreasing it to medium and brief lengths for extra functions. Having a number of variations of your bio will make sure you’re prepared for each business alternative that comes your approach.
Begin with a draft and refine
Your bio gained’t be excellent on the primary move and that’s high-quality. As we famous within the preparation part, seize a number of buddies to evaluate it for readability and accuracy – proceed to workshop it in keeping with their suggestions.
When you’ve finalized your bio, make sure you’ve up to date your different promotional belongings. Try the sources beneath for extra assist.
