“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 necessary. It’s usually the very first thing an journalist, fan, reserving agent, or trade professional will take a look at to get to know you past the music. 

This information walks you thru a transparent course of that will help you pull collectively an expert bio. That features what to arrange earlier than you write, find out how to construction your bio for various makes use of, and what to incorporate.

Why a robust bio issues

Your artist bio is necessary for 3 important causes. First, it’s the principle supply of fact for the trade to get to know you and your music instantly 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 challenge. And third, it’s a spot the place you possibly can construct credibility – in a couple of hundred phrases you possibly can display 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 possibly can pace up the drafting course of and guarantee your bio hits all the fitting factors by making ready some supplies forward of time:

• All of your catalog metadata: From lyrics and style to trace titles and launch dates, have this info useful to quote in your bio – at the very least in your most up-to-date or upcoming launch.
• Resume: This doesn’t should be a proper doc, however put together an inventory of your latest accomplishments and main initiatives.
• A story: Making an attempt to cram your life story and your inventive life philosophy into a pair hundred phrases won’t work. As an alternative, 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 aspect to construct your bio round.
• Just a few readers: When doubtful, lean on associates! Discover a couple of associates or mentors within the music scene that will help you plan your bio and/or evaluation it as soon as it’s drafted. They will present useful 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.

Easy methods to write your artist bio in 5 steps

Now you’re prepared to begin writing your bio. Comply with these steps to get your draft collectively.

Step 1: Lead with who you’re 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 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 received’t have house in your bio to inform your life story, so concentrate on that narrative angle you ready. Anchoring your bio in that story ought to permit you to 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 provide 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 very least one or two modern artists. Then, if you happen to make a playlist round your launch, guarantee these artists are on it, too.

Step 4: Spotlight your achievements

Drawing from the record you ready, embody a couple of noteworthy accomplishments, releases, occasions, and extra to display momentum. Right here, you’re aiming to indicate, not inform. As an alternative of claiming “a rising fanbase” or “wonderful dwell exhibits” present some key streaming or social media metrics, the variety of exhibits you’ve not too long ago performed (and maybe offered out), and so forth. If you happen to’re very early in your music journey, you possibly can share your objectives and the work you’ve put into reaching 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 record them beneath. If you happen to’re nonetheless working as much as press protection, ask for quotes from collaborators, associates, 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 wanting backward. Shut with one thing your reader can look ahead to — 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 if 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 needed, then work on lowering 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 trade alternative that comes your method.

Begin with a draft and refine

Your bio received’t be good on the primary cross and that’s superb. As we famous within the preparation part, seize a couple of associates to evaluation it for readability and accuracy – proceed to workshop it in response to their suggestions. 

When you’ve finalized your bio, make sure you’ve up to date your different promotional property. Try the sources beneath for extra assist.