“Writing about music is like dancing about structure” – Unknown
Writing about your self is tough. Writing about your music is even more durable. However that doesn’t make your artist bio any much less necessary. It’s usually 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 arrange earlier than you write, learn how to construction your bio for various makes use of, and what to incorporate.
Why a powerful bio issues
Your artist bio is necessary for 3 essential causes. First, it’s the principle supply of reality for the business to get to know you and your music immediately 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 just a few hundred phrases you’ll be able to exhibit that you simply take your music significantly and show your success.
5 issues to arrange earlier than you write
Don’t begin writing your bio from scratch. You may velocity up the drafting course of and guarantee your bio hits all the correct 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 info helpful to quote in your bio – at the least 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 current accomplishments and main tasks.
- A story: Attempting to cram your life story and your inventive life philosophy into a pair hundred phrases won’t work. As a substitute, decide on a narrative that’s rooted in an upcoming launch, current targets, an concept you’ve been obsessing over, or your general artist model. Discover a core narrative ingredient to construct your bio round.
- Just a few readers: When unsure, lean on pals! Discover just a few pals or mentors within the music scene that can assist you plan your bio and/or overview it as soon as it’s drafted. They will 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 sturdy press quotes can construct credibility inside your bio.
Tips on how to write your artist bio in 5 steps
Now you’re prepared to start out writing your bio. Observe these steps to get your draft collectively.
Step 1: Lead with who you’re and what you sound like
Hook the reader quick. Lead together with your style, temper, and a sonic reference level, however don’t really feel boxed in by conference, both. You may open with a quote, a metaphor, or a fast story. The purpose is to seize a reader’s consideration and shortly set up who you’re and what sort of 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 let you seamlessly pivot out to debate accomplishments and the way this story frames your most up-to-date or upcoming launch.
Step 3: Identify your influences
Reference two to 4 well-known artist names to assist individuals orient to your sound. The purpose is to offer the reader context round your music by connecting it with music they know. Be intentional concerning the artists you select – for press functions, embody at the least one or two modern artists. Then, in case you make a playlist round your launch, guarantee these artists are on it, too.
Step 4: Spotlight your achievements
Drawing from the listing you ready, embody just a few noteworthy accomplishments, releases, occasions, and extra to exhibit momentum. Right here, you’re aiming to indicate, not inform. As a substitute of claiming “a rising fanbase” or “glorious dwell reveals” present some key streaming or social media metrics, the variety of reveals you’ve lately performed (and maybe offered out), and so forth. If you happen to’re very early in your music journey, you’ll be able to share your targets and the work you’ve put into reaching them.
Step 5: Share your finest press quotes
You may construct credibility into your bio by together with a sequence of press quotes. You may both cleverly weave them into the bio itself or listing them beneath. If you happen to’re nonetheless working as much as press protection, ask for quotes from collaborators, pals, and others. The purpose is to realize credibility by demonstrating individuals care about your work.
Step 6: Shut with what’s subsequent
Don’t let your bio finish trying 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 indicators 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. If you happen to adopted the steps above, your bio might be sitting someplace between 250-500 phrases. Edit it down if obligatory, then work on lowering it to medium and quick lengths for added functions. Having a number of variations of your bio will make sure you’re prepared for each business alternative that comes your method.
Begin with a draft and refine
Your bio gained’t be excellent on the primary go and that’s fantastic. As we famous within the preparation part, seize just a few pals to overview 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.