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What to Put on Your Electronic Press Kit

Eric Alper
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What to Put on Your Electronic Press Kit

Picture the person on the receiving end of your music: a booking agent, a festival curator, a journalist, all buried under thousands of submissions and giving each one maybe sixty seconds before moving on. Your electronic press kit is what they see in that window, and it has one job. As one industry guide puts it, think of your musician EPK as your digital handshake, the one-stop shop you hand to promoters, bloggers, and label reps that gives them everything they need in a single, slick package. Get it right and you cut through the noise. Get it wrong and you’re ignored. Here’s exactly what belongs on it.

1. A sharp artist bio

This is the anchor. A good bio explains who you are, what your sound is, and what makes your music unique, and it should be concise but engaging so that journalists and promoters can easily summarize your story. A smart structural trick: include a medium-length bio with the first paragraph crafted as a standalone pitch, knowing that someone may copy and paste only part of it. If you’re just starting out, keep it simple and factual, covering your genre, hometown, member names and instruments, and an artist statement, plus a “for fans of” or “sounds like” section to help contextualize your music.

2. Your music, ready to play

The whole point is for someone to hear you, instantly. Embedded players or streaming links allow listeners to immediately hear your music without leaving the page. Lead with your strongest material: a promotional link repository of your best tracks or a lead single from your latest release, and keep downloadable high-quality audio files on hand for when a magazine premiering your single requests an MP3.

3. High-resolution photos

Give media a real choice of images, not one cramped headshot. Include high-resolution images that represent your brand and style, offering a variety of shots like close-ups and performance images for media use in multiple dimensions: landscape, vertical, and square. A good mix means posed band photos and a few live shots that capture your performance energy, plus photos matching the visual aesthetic of a new release, along with the album artwork.

4. Video

Video shows what a recording can’t: your presence. Live footage, a music video, or a session clip lets a booker see how you hold a room before they commit to putting you in one. High-quality photographs and engaging music videos enhance visual appeal and viewer engagement.

5. Press and reviews

Third-party praise builds instant credibility. Pull quotes from reviews, blog features, interviews, or radio play, and link back to the originals. As the EPK essentials lists consistently note, press and reviews are a core element alongside your bio, photos, music, and video.

6. Highlights and achievements

This is your case for being worth a gamble. Notable achievements add to an EPK’s appeal, so spotlight your biggest wins: chart placements, notable past shows or festivals, streaming milestones, awards, and grants. These details quietly tell a promoter you’re an artist to watch, and more importantly, an artist to book.

7. Social and streaming links

Make it effortless to follow you everywhere. Include clean links to your Spotify, Apple Music, Instagram, and the rest, so a curious booker or journalist can dig deeper in one click. These belong among the essentials of any digital press kit alongside contact information.

8. Tour dates and contact info

Finally, close the loop. Keep your EPK up-to-date with your latest show schedule and tour dates, and make it easy for people to reach you by including your contact information, social media links, and website URL, so professionals can get in touch for bookings, interviews, or collaborations. An EPK with no obvious way to contact you is a door with no handle.

How you deliver all this matters as much as the contents. The old-school PDF attachment is dead; promoters are busier than ever and want a fast, mobile-friendly link that gives them everything in one click. The current gold standard is a dedicated page on your artist website or a purpose-built EPK platform, because it’s mobile-friendly, always up to date, and lets promoters stream your music without downloading anything, with a one-page downloadable summary as a backup. The best kits all share one trait: they’re scannable in under 60 seconds and they lead with music.

Build it once, keep it current, and remember that your EPK is a living document. It can evolve too, from building out your bio as your career progresses to revamping the branding to match an upcoming release. The goal never changes: make it dead simple for the right person to say yes

Belfast’s Hidden Music Gems

Eric Alper
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Belfast’s Hidden Music Gems

Everyone who comes to Belfast for music ends up at the same handful of famous spots, and rightly so. But the real magic of this city lives down the side streets, up the staircases, and in the rooms most visitors walk straight past. There’s never been a better moment to go looking for them, either: from Sunday 2nd to Sunday 9th August 2026, the city takes centre stage as it proudly hosts Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s biggest celebration of traditional Irish music and culture. It’s the first time Belfast has ever hosted, with over 800,000 people expected across eight days of street performances, pub sessions and stage concerts. While the headline venues will be heaving, the city’s quieter treasures are where you’ll find the sessions you’ll still be talking about next year. Belfast is, after all, a place where the magic often happens in cozy pubs, bustling bars, and intimate venues where you can feel the energy of the performers right beside you.

The Garrick

Start with one of the best-kept secrets in trad. Arguably one of the hidden gems when it comes to trad music in Belfast, The Garrick on Chichester Street, just down from Belfast City Hall, is well worth a visit. The room itself is half the pleasure: your eye is immediately drawn to the large wooden bar and then up to the ornate lanterns that hang above, and the interior feels every bit as old as the building, which dates back to 1870. Time it right, because there are trad sessions running on Wednesday evenings from 9:30pm, Fridays from 5pm and Sundays from 6pm.

Maddens Bar

Tucked onto Berry Street and impossible to miss thanks to its mural-covered exterior, Maddens is a true locals’ institution. It’s a beloved spot offering the city’s best pint and live music from 9pm each evening, with over 50 years of upholding the tradition of live music in a warm, Celtic-inspired setting. The insider move: go on a Monday night, when Madden’s is home to some of the best traditional Irish music in the city. Reviewers consistently call it a hidden gem offering an immersive experience with live traditional Irish music, top-notch Guinness, and the owner’s personal tours sharing the pub’s history.

Ulster Sports Club

For something cooler and more contemporary, climb the stairs here. Ulster Sports Club is an easy-going bar in Belfast city centre with its own brewery, but it also houses three floors of music venues, with a varied line-up of acts attracting a creative crowd who like to dance late into the night. A word to the wise: check listings at the last minute, because some of the best gigs here pop up with barely any notice.

The Spaniard

An icon among those in the know. The Spaniard is a popular choice when it comes to music in the Cathedral Quarter, specialising in live entertainment, tapas and good company, spread over two levels. It doubles as a comedy and cabaret room too: it’s the home of the Craic the Gong show, in an iconic Belfast cocktail bar with unique and cosy decor, a small room that sells out often, so book tickets early.

Babel Rooftop

For music with a view, head skyward. Found atop the Bullitt Hotel, Babel is a gorgeous rooftop bar with regular live music events, where in the summer months guests can dance under the stars to live DJs, with more chilled-out acoustic sets during the daytime. A perfect Fleadh-week spot to catch some sun and sound between sessions.

The Jeggy Nettle

Finally, venture out of the centre to where the students go. The Jeggy Nettle, located on Stranmillis, is a casual local pub with talented acts performing from 10pm every evening, except Tuesdays, which is quiz night. It’s exactly the kind of low-key neighbourhood spot the crowds won’t find.

One last tip for Fleadh week: don’t overlook the street itself. The buskers in the city centre really make Belfast special, from traditional music to a modern take on a classic, and during a festival expecting 800,000 visitors, the pavements will be as alive as any stage. As they say in Belfast, soak up the craic, discover the culture, and be part of something truly special. Then go find a gem of your own.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann takes place in Belfast, August 2–9, 2026. For more information visit fleadhcheoil.ie, visitbelfast.com, and discovernorthernireland.com.

Peabo Bryson, Grammy-Winning Voice Of “Beauty And The Beast” And “A Whole New World,” Dies At 75

Eric Alper
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Peabo Bryson, Grammy-Winning Voice Of “Beauty And The Beast” And “A Whole New World,” Dies At 75

Peabo Bryson, the velvet-voiced R&B singer who turned the soul ballad into an art form and lent his voice to two of Disney’s most beloved songs, has died at 75. He passed on June 2 in Marietta, Georgia, days after suffering a stroke.

Born Robert Peapo Bryson in Greenville, South Carolina, on April 13, 1951, he spent much of his childhood on his grandfather’s farm in nearby Mauldin. His love of music came from his mother, who took the family to see the great Black artists of the day. He made his professional debut at 14, singing backup for a local group, and it was a bandleader’s trouble pronouncing his French West Indian name, Peapo, that led him to perform as Peabo.

His break came at Atlanta’s Bang Records, where a label executive signed him as a writer, producer and arranger. He launched his solo career in 1976 and signed to Capitol the following year, building a run of hits that included “Feel the Fire,” “Reaching for the Sky,” “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again” and “Can You Stop the Rain.”

Bryson became best known as a master of the duet. He recorded the romantic ‘Born to Love’ with Roberta Flack in 1983, partnered with Natalie Cole and Angela Bofill, and joined Regina Belle on several songs over the decades. The biggest moments came through Disney. His “Beauty and the Beast” with Celine Dion won the 1992 Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle, the theme from ‘Aladdin’, won the following year and topped the pop chart, the rare film song to claim Golden Globe, Oscar and Grammy honors.

His career stretched well beyond the studio. He sang a lyrical version of the ‘One Life to Live’ theme on the soap itself in 1985, took the tenor role of Sportin’ Life in a Detroit production of ‘Porgy and Bess’, and kept recording into his seventies, releasing ‘Stand for Love’ in 2018 with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. His final album, ‘Grace’, arrived in 2026.

There were hard chapters too. In 2003, the IRS seized property from his Atlanta home over a tax debt and auctioned his possessions, including both Grammy Awards, though a family friend bought back his “A Whole New World” trophy and vowed to return it. He survived a heart attack in 2019 and made a full recovery, performing for years afterward.

Bryson married singer Tanya Boniface in 2010. He is survived by his wife, a son who occasionally joined him onstage, a daughter, and three grandchildren. Across a career that ran from 1965 to 2026, his warm tenor remained unmistakable, a voice that made millions of listeners feel celebrated, cherished and seen.

The Platters Open A New Chapter With “The Prayer” From ‘With Love, The Platters’

Eric Alper
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The Platters Open A New Chapter With “The Prayer” From ‘With Love, The Platters’

One of America’s enduring vocal harmony groups is back with a love letter to the world. The Platters release “The Prayer” on May 29, the opening track of ‘With Love, The Platters’, their first major LP in decades. The song will be available on Spotify and all major digital platforms.

The recording comes from the official Platters organization, carried forward by Herb Reed Enterprises under Frederick J. Balboni Jr., Reed’s longtime manager and handpicked successor. Reed founded and named The Platters in 1953, and the group has stayed a living vocal ensemble ever since, with Reed as its defining constant even as the membership evolved.

That history runs deep. Herb Reed, Tony Williams, David Lynch, Zola Taylor and Paul Robi are remembered as the classic chart-era lineup that broke The Platters nationally in 1955 with “Only You (And You Alone).” But the group was never frozen in a single roster, with Reed remaining the founder and guardian of the name and sound he fought to protect.

The song choice carries weight. Made famous by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli, “The Prayer” becomes, in The Platters’ hands, the first breath of a journey rooted in harmony, faith, hope, dignity and unity. Balboni stressed it isn’t nostalgia, but a living expression of hope carried forward on Reed’s promise.

The album rolls out in chapters. “The Prayer” arrives May 29, followed by “Can’t Help Falling in Love” on July 10, “Your Song” on August 21, “All of Me” on October 2, and the LP and vinyl release in November 2026. The set reimagines songs associated with Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Queen, John Legend, Elton John, The Bee Gees and Bryan Adams through The Platters’ signature harmonies, true to a group that long transformed standards into defining recordings like “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.”

Today The Platters are Lance Bernard Bryant, Omar Ross, Jovian K. Ford and Brittany Michelle Wallace, continuing the lineage Reed founded, named and entrusted to the future.

Chase Rice, Coors Banquet And Wrangler Print His New Single “Connie Lou” Onto Beer-Infused Jeans

Eric Alper
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Chase Rice, Coors Banquet And Wrangler Print His New Single “Connie Lou” Onto Beer-Infused Jeans

This might be the most country crossover yet. Coors Banquet and Wrangler have reunited for their third collaboration, teaming with award-winning country artist Chase Rice on a limited-edition apparel collection built around their shared Western heritage. The headline piece turns a song into something you can wear.

The centerpiece is wild. “Beer Chords” are jeans featuring the actual chords from Rice’s new single “Connie Lou,” printed directly onto the denim using ink infused with Coors Banquet beer, a first-of-its-kind design. The collection doubles as the song’s world premiere too, giving fans their first taste of “Connie Lou” before it arrives as a surprise release across all platforms May 29.

The song carries personal weight. Rooted in the true story of his parents’ early days, “Connie Lou” draws on a Western romance shaped by rodeo nights and cold beer, which gets carried straight onto the denim. Rice said Coors Banquet has long been part of his story, from his dad holding two Banquets on the cover of the Cowboys record to writing songs like “Mr. Coors,” which made the partnership feel natural.

The full lineup runs deep. Blending Wrangler’s timeless feel with Coors Banquet’s Western roots, the Coors Banquet x Wrangler Collection features 32 unique pieces, including men’s and women’s apparel and co-branded caps, with highlights like the Denim Jersey, the Brushpopper Cowboy Cut Work Shirt and the Men’s Wrangler 13MWZ Cowboy Cut Jeans.

Holly Wheeler, VP of Global Brand Marketing at Kontoor Brands, called Wrangler the unofficial uniform of country music for decades, seen on the legends onstage and the fans in the front row, and said the collection is built to withstand a summer crowd and the open range alike.

The campaign adds a real prize. As part of Coors Banquet’s “Start Your Legacy” platform, a “Connie Lou” cover contest will hand one up-and-coming artist the chance to perform the song live onstage with Rice. The collection, including 250 total pairs of Beer Chords, drops in batches of 125 at shop.coors.com starting at noon CT on May 28 and June 4 while supplies last.

St. John Celebration 2026 Brings Three Weeks Of Music, Culture And Caribbean Tradition To The U.S. Virgin Islands

Eric Alper
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St. John Celebration 2026 Brings Three Weeks Of Music, Culture And Caribbean Tradition To The U.S. Virgin Islands

One of the Caribbean’s most cherished cultural traditions is gearing up for another run. The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, in partnership with the Division of Festivals, has announced the 2026 St. John Celebration, taking place June 14 through July 4 under the vibrant theme “History and Collaboration with a Musical Mix.”

The festival is rooted in pride and tradition. It brings together residents and visitors for weeks of culture, music, cuisine and community, culminating in a fusion of festivities honoring both Emancipation Day and Independence Day in the territory. From lively village nights and cultural showcases to boat races, parades and fireworks, it reflects the rich heritage and enduring spirit of the Virgin Islands.

Commissioner of Tourism Jennifer Matarangas-King called it one of the territory’s most cherished traditions and a chance to showcase the spirit of its people and the natural beauty of the islands, bringing generations of Virgin Islanders and visitors together to honor history and embrace culture.

This year’s honorees will be recognized for their contributions to the culture and service of the Virgin Islands, including Jennifer Williams as Food Fair Honoree, Tishelle Knight as Village Honoree, and Lisa Penn as Parade Marshal.

The signature events spotlight local musicians, artisans, dancers and chefs throughout. Director of Festivals and Events Ian Turnbull said the goal each year is to preserve and celebrate the traditions that make St. John unique while creating memorable experiences for everyone who attends.

Key Events Include:

June 14: Pan-O-Rama – An evening of steel pan performances at Franklin A. Powell Sr. Park

June 20: Royalty Show – Celebrating the poise, talent and cultural pride of St. John’s ambassadors

June 21: Food Fair, Coronation & Boat Races – Local cuisine and coronation festivities at Franklin A. Powell Sr. Park, with boat races in Cruz Bay Harbor

June 27: Beach Jam – A lively waterfront event with music and entertainment at Cruz Bay Harbor

June 28: Opening of Celebration Village 2026 – Nightly entertainment, food vendors and cultural activities in Cruz Bay

June 28 – July 4: Village Nights – Evening events with live music, food vendors and community activities

July 3: J’ouvert, Emancipation Day Program & Torch Light Parade – A sunrise street celebration in St. John National Park, followed by a program honoring the abolition of slavery, with the torch light procession beginning at 7pm

July 4: St. John Celebration Parade & Fireworks Display 2026 – A colorful parade through Cruz Bay followed by a fireworks show over Cruz Bay Harbor

D’USSÉ Toasts Jaÿ-Z And 30 Years Of ‘Reasonable Doubt’ With Limited-Edition VSOP Box Set

Eric Alper
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D’USSÉ Toasts Jaÿ-Z And 30 Years Of ‘Reasonable Doubt’ With Limited-Edition VSOP Box Set

D’USSÉ is raising a glass to one of hip-hop’s defining careers. The cognac brand co-founded by Shawn “Jaÿ-Z” Carter is celebrating Jaÿ-Z 30, marking three decades since his debut album ‘Reasonable Doubt’, with a national program of limited-edition releases and fan experiences tied to music, nightlife and cocktail culture. The year also marks the 25th anniversary of ‘The Blueprint’, making it a fitting moment to reflect on the full sweep of an era-defining run.

The centerpiece is the collectible. The JAŸ-Z 30 D’USSÉ VSOP box set is a limited-time offering built to honor three decades of ‘Reasonable Doubt’ and its impact, available exclusively at select retailers nationwide while it lasts.

There’s a drink to go with it. D’USSÉ crafted the CODE30, a signature cocktail inspired by the codes of ambition, excellence and cultural influence that have defined Carter’s legacy. Bright and citrus-forward, it blends D’USSÉ Cognac with lemon, amaretto, pineapple juice and soda water for a light finish, and it’s available across the country for fans to share.

Gigi DaDan, General Manager of D’USSÉ, framed the milestone around legacy, saying Carter’s codes of ambition, craftsmanship and excellence are woven into the brand’s DNA, and that there’s no better way to mark 30 years than raising a glass to community and what comes next.

The celebration spills into the summer. D’USSÉ brought a presence to The Roots Picnic in May and will turn up at Carter’s Yankee Stadium residency in July, with dedicated bars serving the CODE30. The brand will also host events across Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, Washington D.C., New York and Philadelphia, giving fans nationwide a chance to mark the moment firsthand.

BTS, Cardi B And Kenny Chesney Lead The Star-Stacked 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival In Las Vegas

Eric Alper
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BTS, Cardi B And Kenny Chesney Lead The Star-Stacked 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival In Las Vegas

The biggest pop weekend in Las Vegas is back with a monster bill. iHeartMedia has unveiled the lineup for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival presented by Capital One, set for Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19 at T-Mobile Arena.

The roster spans genres and generations. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the two-day event features BTS, Benson Boone, Cardi B, Goo Goo Dolls, Kenny Chesney, Lainey Wilson, Major Lazer, Muse, Snoop Dogg, Weezer and Zara Larsson, with more acts still to come.

The reach extends well past the arena. Each night broadcasts live across iHeartMedia radio stations in more than 150 markets, while Disney+ and Hulu livestream all the performances, handing subscribers front-row access from home. Through a summer-long on-air and online promotion, listeners across the country also get chances to win trips to Vegas for the festival.

This year’s proud partners include presenting sponsor Capital One, Audible, Burlington, Hyundai, the OREO brand and She Rises Studios, with more to be announced.

The festival is executive produced by John Sykes, Tom Poleman and Bart Peters from iHeartMedia and Diversified Production Services. Presales start Wednesday, June 10, ahead of the general sale Friday, June 12, at 2 pm ET.

Paul McCartney Documentary ‘The Hunt For The Lost Bass’ Heads To Blu-ray This July

Eric Alper
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Paul McCartney Documentary ‘The Hunt For The Lost Bass’ Heads To Blu-ray This July

One of rock’s great mysteries finally gets its home-video release. ‘McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass’ arrives in Europe on Blu-ray July 20 via British label Dazzler Media, telling the story of Paul McCartney being reunited with one of music’s most famous instruments.

The mystery ran deep. For more than 50 years, the disappearance of McCartney’s original Höfner bass stood as one of rock’s enduring puzzles. The documentary traces the instrument’s journey and the fan-powered quest to track it down.

The bass itself is a portal to the past. Bought in Hamburg for £30, it sat by McCartney’s side through the birth of The Beatles and witnessed their extraordinary rise. When it vanished in the ’70s, it was thought lost forever.

The film carries real heft in its interviews. McCartney appears alongside his brother Mike, Klaus Voormann, Elvis Costello, and the roadies, journalists and fans who set out to find and restore the bass to its rightful place. It’s a story about fandom, creativity, love, loss, memory and the transformative power of music.

Directed by Arthur Cary, the documentary is a production of BBC, Fremantle Media, Passion Pictures, Footprint and Darkmouth Films. It had a two-night theatrical run and premiered on BBC Two in April.

BTS Team With OREO For A Limited Edition Cookie Inspired By Their Korean Roots

Eric Alper
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0
BTS Team With OREO For A Limited Edition Cookie Inspired By Their Korean Roots

BTS just baked their heritage into the world’s most famous cookie. RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook have joined forces with OREO for the Limited Edition OREO & BTS Cookies, a brown sugar pancake-flavored cookie the group created and dedicated to their fans. It marks BTS’s first-ever global snacking partnership, kicking off a playful movement across more than 80 markets.

The flavor is deeply personal. The cookies are filled with a sweet creme that remixes hotteok, the warm, brown sugar-stuffed pancake popular in Korean street food markets. BTS have fond childhood memories of both hotteok and OREO cookies, which makes the collaboration a way to tuck a piece of their Korean heritage inside a cookie they’ve always loved.

The band poured the same care into the design. Celebrating their 13th anniversary, the cookies feature 13 unique embossments BTS created for fans, including the member names, a BTS light stick, and three cookies that form a special hidden message. Collect the cookies to reveal it, since the embossments in each pack vary. The pack itself pays vibrant homage to South Korea’s street market culture.

BTS framed the partnership as an honor, saying they ate OREO cookies as kids and still eat them in the studio, and that OREO is helping them share a taste of home with the world. Matt Foley, VP of Marketing at OREO, called it a meeting of two devoted fanbases and a way for a brand with deep history to keep leading the cultural conversation.

The campaign extends into a fan project too. Inspired by the fandom’s letter-writing tradition, OREO is rallying fans to help create the world’s largest love letter to BTS, opening June 8 via a QR code on the pack or at OREOBTS.com.

The cookies go to presale Monday, June 1, at OREO.com/UnwrapTheCollab, then roll out at retailers starting June 8 for a limited time while supplies last.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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