music profile assignment

Writing a Musician Bio: Complete Guide & Examples

In order to build a successful music career, you have to do a lot more than craft music. Model musicians aren't just great at their craft, they also know how to market themselves on just about any platform. Part of this skillset is knowing how to craft an excellent musician bio.

Writing your own artist bio can feel somewhat unnatural, to say the least, but it's an essential skill to master alongside other industry professionals. Below, we'll walk you through the components of an effective musician bio and showcase a couple of exemplary musician and band bios. This way, you'll have no trouble writing your own music bio at any stage in your career. Let's dive in!

What Is A Musician Bio?

So, what is a musician biography and why is it important to your success throughout the industry? A great musician bio helps you communicate that you're professional, driven, and proven to succeed throughout the business of music. It can also help curious fans develop more of an insight into who you are as an artist, and help strengthen your artist-to-fan connection.

With that in mind, an effective musician bio is different from the short bio you share with an employer or family members. A musician bio is special because it's crafted strategically around your artist statement and achievements, helping you to grow your fanbase.

Your musician bio will be used in multiple places, essentially serving as your pitch as an artist. In some cases, potential fans and people within the industry may read your music artist bio long before getting a taste of your music. Therefore, your musician bio should help draw in future listeners, and effectively describe your sound with words alone.

Why Are Musician Bios Important?

It may not seem so at first glance, but a strong musician bio can have a real impact on your music career. Musician bios are certainly secondary to the music itself, but they can be the professional hook that draws others to your sound.

It's also a skill in itself to understand how to pitch yourself as a musician, and crafting a strong artist or band bio is a great place to start. After all, how are you supposed to market yourself if you aren't able to effectively describe your art? Marketability goes a long way within the music industry, so take the time to write your own artist bio even if you plan on hiring someone to write your official artist bio for you.

In any case, you still need to know how to describe yourself to someone in person, so writing up your bio can help you refine your pitch.

Where Should I Put My Musician Bio?

So where will others find your musician bio? And where should you place your musician bio? Here are a couple of essential spots that should include your music artist bio.

Digital streaming platforms or DSPs are one of the key places to host a music bio. Oftentimes, outlets like Spotify serve as a music discovery tool, and an artist bio might help convert a passive listener to a loyal fan while your audience is just getting to know you. It's prominently displayed within your artist profile and can be updated regularly based on your release schedule.

Social Media

Social media has noticeably less real estate than other outlets for music bios. However, a couple of curated words can help new eyes gain an understanding of who you are and where you hope to go as an artist.

An EPK or electronic press kit is a standard for anyone pitching themselves throughout the music industry. EPKs can be used to pitch your band to promote, book gigs, help you get signed, you name it! Basically, the EPK is the standard pitching tool throughout the music industry that every musician should have. One of the most important parts of an electronic press kit is having a great artist bio to serve as the foundation for all other assets.

You should also have a version of your musician bio written in your phone notes or somewhere easily accessible for pitching and other purposes. You'll never know when you'll need to pull out an elevator pitch of your music and artistry, so make sure to update and refine your mission statement regularly. If you don't know who you are as an artist, no one will.

Writing A Musician Bio: 9 Essential Considerations

There are several key ingredients that come with crafting a great music bio. Thankfully, we have the recipe! Here's exactly what you should include in your artist bio.

1. Have Different Bios For Different Situations

As discussed, there are several situations where you'll need to use a musician bio. Understandably, different situations require various types of bios, so you'll want to have a different musician bio for each of the following scenarios:

The Elevator Pitch

This is the short and sweet musician bio that you have memorized if someone asks what your music sounds like. It shouldn't detail your entire musical history, and should more or less include what music genres you cover or some famous artists might help someone get a sense of your sound. One approach that may work well is describing your sound as [INSERT FAMOUS ARTIST] meets [INSERT FAMOUS ARTIST].

For instance, you might tell someone that you sound like "Lorde meets Radiohead" or something of the sort, to peak people's interest all while describing your sound.

You don't have a lot of text real estate when it comes to social media, so you'll need to choose your words wisely when coming up with an artist description for your TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram bio. This could be as simple as few words that describe what you do like "Nu-metal drummer" or "Electropop Producer". Condense down your key points to a sentence or less.

The Mid Length Bio

The mid length bio has a bit more context than the short bio. You might see this type of bio used in press pieces, as a part of an EPK, or shared by the artist. This bio can expand on your genre-inclusive musician bio with examples of your career highlights, and relevant background information on where you came from, and where you plan to be as your career moves forward.

The Full Length Bio

In the full length bio, you have the opportunity to share your full musical journey as well as all of the key points included in the short version of your bio page. These long bios are usually hosted on a website page, through DSPs, or shared by press to help listeners understand new artists. In this bio type, you might include personal stories and showcase the highlights of your debut album or release.

2. Write A Strong Hook

In order to write a masterful bio as a musician, your bio needs to have a strong hook, just like a story. This could be an interesting fact, a couple of words that encapsulate who you are as an artist or the shocking origins of your creations. Read other artists' bios and take note of what draws you to read some over others.

Figure out what your mission is. Why are you making music? What does music mean to you? This mission can be your "artist statement" and serve as a key point to why listeners should check out your music. Are you creating music to shed light on an important topic? Do you have a unique, genre-bending production style? Figure out what makes you unique as an artist, and weave it into your artist narrative.

3. Speak In Your Own Voice or Third Person

Most industry professionals will advise that you write your artist bio in the third person. For one, this may give off the aura that you didn't write your own bio, and that you have a team to write it for you which can speak to your professionalism. On another note, it's just the industry standard as you can see from this famous musician's bio with examples showcasing her accomplishments throughout her career:

Most musician bios use active voice vs passive voice to make writing more direct, and easy to digest within a quick read.

In some cases, it may pay to speak in your own voice. Your long bio might be more formal, but shorter, 1st person bios can be more personal. Having that personal touch can help keep visitors engaged and make it easier for new listeners to get a first impression of your artistry.

A great example of this more personalized bio can be seen with indie pop artist Maude Latour:

It's not a polished sample musician bio, but it does give you a keen sense of who she is and what she stands for. This short artist bio also aligns well with her brand as a creative tell-all songwriter, spilling confessional lyrics throughout her alt-pop sound.

4. Include Similar Artists

If you're just starting out, you might not be playing shows or have a lot of new songs to talk about in your music bio. When in doubt, include more recognizable artists within your bio to draw in like-minded listeners. This can make it easier for you to target a specific audience and cultivate a more dedicated fanbase.

It also makes it easier for blogs to cover your creations, since positioning your tracks appropriately will be easy. Spotify also links out directly to mentioned artists, making it easy for your listeners to trace your references.

5. Keep Your Bio Up To Date

Within your bio, you can share news to build anticipation surrounding your release. Be sure to mention any notable music videos, upcoming tours, or a few notes on what your latest album means to you as an artist.

Your artist bio page should stay current with mentions of new material with every release. The mention can be brief, but including it gives listeners a reason to dive back into your discography, which is the ultimate goal of any piece of music press.

6. Include Some Press Quotes and Accomplishments

It's common to include a notable accomplishment or two in your short and long bio pages as a musician. This can help provide social proof, especially if you aren't a part of a well known band (yet). One of the easiest ways to do this is by embedding a quote from a blog you've been featured in, or sharing a positive review of your latest release.

You can also include what sorts of playlists you've been featured on, testimonials from other artists, or any other projects you're working on. Ultimately, your artist bio needs to center primarily around your music, but working in testimonials or other interesting facts about you can help make you more compelling as an artist.

If you're in a band, it might make sense to introduce each founding member with a quote on their artistry.

7. Source From Samples

Feel free to draw inspiration from other artists and bands. Screenshot a few examples from some of your favorite artists and note what you like about each artist's bio. Do you like the artist's bio because it showcases an inspiring story? Or is it because the artist writes about his or her work in an approachable manner?

There isn't one "correct" formula when it comes to writing a bio page, so figure out what resonates with you in the music business, and apply the same sentiment to your own artist statement.

8. Proofread and Ask For Feedback

There's nothing that reads more unprofessional than a written bio that doesn't have proper spelling or grammar. Note, there might be a worthy exception when it comes to more personalized, first-person bios, but generally speaking, your musician and band bios should be as eloquent as possible, free of error.

If you really want to make your musician bio shine, create a couple of different versions and send them out to friends and trusted voices in the industry. Ask for feedback and take advice from others to heart! Someone will probably use your artist bio to determine their first impression of you as an artist, so you'll want to take your time with this.

9. Remember A Musician's Bio Is Just One Piece Of The Puzzle

There's no denying that having an effective bio as a musician is important. However, remember that this is just one component that comes with being a successful artist. Having a strong musician's bio is great for social proof, but if your art or music simply isn't there, it's not going to hold on its own. Similarly, if you can prove that you're an amazing artist and have something unique to bring to the table, your artist bio doesn't need to be perfect to land you opportunities.

Just try your best to craft a musician bio that's true to you and describes your sound as an artist. A strong bio can help you excel throughout the business when talking professionally about your music, but it isn't going to break you into the industry on its own.

Have fun building your own musician bio as an artist!

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How to Write an Amazing Musician Bio (+ Templates & Examples)

Book More Performances

Promoting your music career starts with your Bio. It’s the essential foundation needed to tell the world who you are and what you have to offer.

Having a compelling musician Bio is important because whether it’s on your website, your social profiles, in a press release, or in a concert program, your Bio is what people typically read BEFORE hearing your music—and you can’t un-do a first impression.

An effective online musician Bio activates your readers’ curiosity and gets them to take action so that they click “play” and listen to your music. That’s the crucial step needed to get someone to buy a ticket or a recording, to sign up for your newsletter, or to hire you.

The problem is most musician Bios AREN’T effective, let alone amazing. Most musician Bios are deadly boring lists of venues, ensembles, awards, and clichés—stuff your readers don’t really care about.

To help, I’ve put together this guide based on my 30+ years of running career and entrepreneurship programs at Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University, and New England Conservatory. My aim here is to help you write a Bio that actually works to help you book more performances.

In this guide I clarify what an effective musician Bio includes, tips to make the writing easier, and templates and examples to illustrate what can make a Bio amazing. Let’s start with the basics:  

What IS a musician Bio?

First, it’s NOT your biography: it’s not a detailed chronological account of your life and career. Instead, think of it as your highlight reel designed with your reader’s needs in mind.

To be clear, your Bio is a MARKETING piece. That doesn’t mean using lots of impressive-sounding adjectives and trying to “sell” yourself. It means your Bio needs to convey a real sense of who you are and what it is you offer audiences—what’s in it for THEM.

This is key: your Bio isn’t for YOU. An effective musician Bio is all about connecting with your intended reader—and conveying how you can meet THEIR needs and interests.

Who is your intended reader?

Know who you’re writing for. Your Bio should NOT be aimed at “everybody.” Nor should it be (secretly) written to impress your family or to shore up your own ego.

You’ll need different versions and different lengths of your Bio depending on the situation. Each should be geared toward the needs and interest of the intended reader.

In terms of length, for . . .

• Your site’s “About” page: 250-350 words
• Presenters’ season brochures: a concise single paragraph (100-200 words)
• Your email pitches: a two-sentence version with just the relevant highlights
• Social platforms: a one-line “Micro Bio” blurb (Instagram limit is 150 characters)
• Teaching: a teaching-focused 200–300 words for your site and/or school’s faculty page

What your reader wants . . .

It’s not just about length. Each Bio version should prioritize what’s relevant to that intended reader. For instance, if your goal is to book more performances, write your website Bio with concert presenters in mind. Prioritize what THEY need to know to consider booking you.

6-Step Process: How to Write an Amazing Musician Bio

1. gather your potential bio content.

Write a long single column list of items and details you might use in your website Bio. Be inclusive. List whatever you have in the following categories.

• Venues where you’ve performed (or where your music has been performed)
• A description of your sound, original music, or your performances (how others describe these)
• Noteworthy programming or projects (collaborations, tours, etc.), recent or upcoming
• Testimonials / quotes from presenters, well-known mentors, or reviews
• Any community engagement / education offerings (AKA outreach work)

(These are what concert presenters in general care most about.)

Other content to consider . . .

Awards, grants, or competitions you’ve won (if relevant and notable) Recording projects Premiers of new works Range of your repertoire Past projects Noteworthy ensembles/individuals you’ve performed with Schools you’ve attended and degrees received (these are optional)

2. Get real: include your WHY

Make an emotional connection with your readers. It’s not enough to say you are passionate about music: tell us WHY. People want to know what motivates you, what inspires you.

This can be done several ways, in just a sentence or two you can tell readers, for example how . . .

• you first fell in love with music (an “ah-ha” moment).
• you overcame obstacles to make your career in music possible.
• social issues have informed your concert programming or the projects you take on.
• the places you’ve lived and key influences have shaped your original music.
• your ensemble first met and came together as a group.

Add whatever you come up with to your growing list of potential Bio content.

3. Lead with a great hook

Effective bios grab readers’ attention immediately and keep them reading.

Look over your list and select 1-3 items that might make a good lead. Maybe it’s your mission or what your performances or your music is like, or a noteworthy recent project. Here are . . .

Musician Bio examples of first lines

“Dubbed one of a coterie of “favorite Brazilian guitarists” by Villa-Lobos magazine, Alvaro Henrique’s mission is to connect audiences with a world of emotions and stories that spark ideas, conversation, and meaning.”

[What’s conveyed? The quote establishes credibility plus we get his Mission and what’s in it for the audience.]

“Katherine Bergman is a Minnesota-based composer who draws on literature, environmentalism, and found materials to create music that has been described as hypnotic and visceral.”

[Here we get an engaging description of the composer’s music and a description of what audiences experience.]

“Pianist Nathaniel LaNasa discovers fresh possibilities of sonority and gesture in music—especially in music being written NOW.”

[What’s conveyed here? The artist’s WHY and his repertoire focus.]

Beyond your first line, your opening paragraph should present an overview of your top credits and a sense of your sound, or your mission, or what’s distinctive about your programming.

4. Build your Musician Bio right

Look over the remaining items on your list and group similar items together. So, if you’re a singer and your list includes opera, musical theater, and oratorio credits, you’d make three separate groupings with the details for each of these types of performance credits.

Then, use your grouped items to write draft sentences and short topic paragraphs, cherry-picking the most relevant credits to use.

For instance, a jazz guitarist might have a short paragraph on her recently released album and include the inspiration behind it, a few of the venues played on the album release tour, and a review excerpt.

Note: Don’t write in chronological order. And avoid sentences with long lists of credits. Most readers will lose interest by the 4th or 5th item, so only include what’s most relevant. Less is more.

Musician Bio Structure Template

Here’s a rough guide of what generally goes where in a musician Bio. You don’t have to have all these items. This is about inspiring you to see more possibilities.

Keep in mind that journalists typically cut from the bottom so check that your first paragraph makes an impact and can stand alone if needed.

The first paragraph Top relevant credits Range of what you offer (overview) Your mission (your WHY) Description of your sound, music, or your distinctive programming Or what your performances are actually like (what audiences experience)

The middle paragraph(s) Projects and collaborations Honors and awards Story and/or mission

Last paragraph Education: degrees, schools (optional) Your workshop, masterclass, or residency offerings Upcoming performances/projects

5. Make your Bio credible

Beware of broad, vague statements. Without backup, generalizations come off as empty advertising. Concrete details and examples make you and your Bio believable.

Instead of “has performed throughout New England,” get specific: “Regional credits include the Portland Museum of Art (ME), the Redfern Arts Center (Keene, NH), and RealArt Ways (Hartford, CT).”

If your Bio claims you have a “wide repertoire,” make sure you have specifics to back it up like “creates programs that range from Monteverdi, Rachmaninoff, and Haydn, to Higdon, Schumann, and Harbison.”

6. Edit your Bio like a Pro

Most of the work of Bio writing is RE-writing. I’ve found effective Bios require at least 7 full rewrites: it’s a process.

Here are two free writing resource recommendations. First, the Hemingway Editor helps streamline and strengthen your language by pointing out overly complicated words, passive voice, and run-on sentences. Second, check out Grammarly which highlights grammatical errors in your writing and suggests fixes.

As you work on drafts, read it out loud: your ear will pick up many things that your eye will miss. Find and fix the typos, run-on sentences, and grammatical errors before you send out anything.

Check out this brief interview I did with flutist Meghan Shanley Alger on the Bio writing process.

How to expand your Musician Bio’s impact

To illustrate the editing process in action, here’s the “Before” and “After” Bio of one of my former clients (Thank you, Meghan!).

You’ll see the Bio that Meghan first showed me (in blue) along with my comments (in italics). And then you’ll see the final version that Meghan and I created together. Note: there were MANY drafts and conversations in between.

Bio example: the “Before”

As a prominent chamber musician and New York Times reviewed artist, Dr. Meghan Shanley Alger is a thriving independent flutist and artist-teacher in the Washington DC area. The UK Financial Times hailed her as “play[ing] sensitively” and the New York Times wrote, “Ms. Shanley sang into her flute to produce surreal, eerie timbres.”

Note: your first paragraph is the most important because many people will not get past it, so lead with your best material. It should give readers a clear idea of who you are as an artist, what you offer, and your most relevant credits. For presenters, this includes venues where you’ve performed.

These review quotes—though they’re very good—don’t have a context yet and on their own, aren’t enough to hook us and pique our curiosity. And for me, “New York Times reviewed artist” is awkward and unnecessary if you’re going to give us the actual quote.

With a passion for contemporary chamber music, Dr. Shanley Alger co-founded Balance Campaign – an ensemble dedicated to commissioning and performing new works by underrepresented composers with connections to the D.C. area. In past seasons Balance Campaign has commissioned works by Nathan Lincoln de Cusatis and Alexandra T. Bryant , been awarded a residency at Avaloch Farm Music Institute , and worked as ensemble-in-residence with District New Music Coalition and the UMBC Composition Department. They were also recently featured by the Intersections Festival 2020 at Atlas Performing Arts Center . Currently, Balance Campaign is recording their first fully commissioned album that will be released through Orpheus Classical in 2022 and working on a new commission with composer Viet Cuong . In addition to her work with Balance Campaign, Dr. Shanley Alger is a member of the Annapolis Chamber Players and has been a guest artist with the Georgetown Quintet, and featured soloist with the Romanian National Philharmonic Orchestra at the Alba Music Festival.

This paragraph is so full of impressive details that the reader would easily get the impression that you ONLY play chamber music. If you want to be considered for more solo recitals, I’d recommend for the first paragraph adding some impressive venues where you’ve performed and then slimming down the Balance Campaign material so that it doesn’t dominate the bio.

Also, I’d avoid having links to other people and ensembles in your Bio. This is where you want to have people NOT be distracted or pulled away. Instead, create a clear call to action so they check out YOUR music.

And a pet peeve of mine: the word “passion” is such a cliché that I’d remove it from ALL your promo materials.

Dr. Shanley Alger maintains a dynamic and diverse private lesson studio. Her students have successfully auditioned for collegiate level music degrees, local youth orchestras, All State, All County, and honors ensembles, and her flute choirs have performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and the Katzen Arts Center. She is also Adjunct Faculty at International School of Music and Norwood School, and held an Adjunct Faculty position at Holton-Arms School.

I recommend NOT trying to do an “all in one” performance/teaching Bio. Instead, have two separate Bios on your website. That way, on your teaching pages you can have a focused bio tailored to attract your ideal students.

And for your performance Bio, I’d suggest at the end of it focusing on the educational concerts, master classes, or workshops you offer as part of performance residencies—because that IS something presenters want to know about.

Beyond performing and teaching, Dr. Shanley Alger is also a member of the Leadership Team for District New Music Coalition , an organization dedicated to promoting the performance and appreciation of contemporary music in the Washington, DC area.

Dr. Shanley holds a DMA in Flute Performance from the University of Maryland. Her primary teachers have been Aaron Goldman, Dr. Tara Helen O’Connor, Kathleen Nester, and Sue Ann Kahn.

These last two paragraphs are a bit “academic.” They might work in a faculty Bio for the school where you teach, but for your own website and for pitches, I’d trim this information. And I’d only use the “Dr.” in your teaching Bio, not here.

This Bio version is 351 words and it feels long—it could be more concise and energizing. See final version below.

Final musician Bio example: the “After”

Flutist Meghan Shanley Alger explores sounds on everything from harmonica and beer bottles to live electronics, knitting needles, and pencils. With an uncanny ability to create specific atmospheres, even the New York Times has noted her “singing into her flute to produce surreal and eerie timbres.” Meghan’s performance credits include the Kennedy Center, AMP by Strathmore and Peabody Library, Baltimore, as well as Symphony Space and Carnegie Hall.

Shanley Alger uses commissioning and programming to advance social change, designing concerts that provoke reflection and audience participation. Current projects include a debut album of living women composers highlighting the power of the archetypal feminine energy, with works by Pamela Z, Lunon, Socolofsky, and Nourbakhsh. Other projects include a participatory concert in which audiences honor lost loved ones by co-creating a temporary memorial flower wall at the venue, using paper remembrance notes to write messages.

The ensemble she co-founded, Balance Campaign, (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion) is a laboratory for sound experimentation. Balance Campaign collaborates with composers to reimagine the concert experience and surprise listeners. The ensemble’s debut recording features a work by Nathan Lincoln de Cusatis that highlights human evolution and our impact on the planet. Upcoming collaborations include works by Alexandra T Bryant and Ashi Day that focus on everything from moms and mice to the Salem Witch Trials.

As a teaching artist, Meghan has presented workshops and residencies in Italy at the Alba Music Festival as well as University of Maryland and Catholic University. Committed to connecting with students and audiences through shared experience and insight, Meghan regularly presents community engagement performances at schools, universities, and festivals.

Words in this version = 270

Note: We shaved 81 words off the original Bio and the new version (in my estimation) is far more engaging. It provides a clear sense of Meghan’s purpose and brings her to life with vivid project descriptions referencing everything from archetypal feminine energy to the Salem Witch Trials. Also, I don’t know how a reader could NOT keep reading after Meghan’s revised opening sentence.

The Bottom Line

In the end, to be effective, your musician Bio needs to capture and hold your intended reader’s attention so that presenters click “play,” check out your music, and eventually hire you.

Use these tips and strategies to write a Bio that helps you make more connections so you can get more of your best work out into the world.

And if, like Meghan, you realize that you’d like personalized help and are curious about working with an expert music career coach, contact me HERE .

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How to Write a Winning Musician Bio (With Examples)

Effective music PR begins with a good artist bio.

As an independent artist, it’s your job to wear a plethora of hats if you want to make it in the music business. You’re basically an entrepreneur — congrats on the new job title! 

One of those entrepreneurial hats is being a publicist.

When acting as your own publicist, there are two main pillars of PR we want you to focus on:

• Telling your artist story (let’s start with your bio)
• Developing relationships with the media

Telling your artist story comes down to creating a standout biography. You want your bio to be compelling and succinct, leaving your reader wanting more . People have short attention spans. So, how can you make yourself unforgettable?

A strong bio can lead to a placement in your favorite music blog, support the biggest booking of your career, or even convert a passive Spotify listener to one of your 1,000 True Fans. (Have you optimized your Spotify profile yet?)

Don’t get us wrong ; we know it can be challenging (and terrifying) to write about yourself, especially if you’re just starting out. However — full-transparency — you’re in the business of self-promotion. Make it a personal priority to get comfortable with this aspect of your music career.

So, how do you start writing an artist bio? 

Everyone has a story, even if it isn’t filled with awards, press quotes and Spotify playlist placements (yet!). Think about what got you to this point. Start with your WHY. Why are you passionate about music? Where did the passion come from? Who has inspired you to become an artist? What struggles have you overcome to make your career possible? Has something in your past motivated you? Who do you look up to? Your bio is your opportunity to create a rapport with your fans (and the media). Find a way to create an emotional connection with them.

If you’re still having a hard time or need some extra help, you could also ask your closest friends, family and industry contacts to write 1-2 sentences about you and your strengths. This will spark creative juices within you, invoke confidence and/or you can even reword those testimonials and use for your bio.

It’s important to have three versions of your bio, because every platform and audience is different. 

• Long-form bio (500 – 750 words) — Use this for your Wikipedia, EPK, Web site.
• Short-form bio (250-350 words) — This is for your SoundCloud, Spotify, Facebook and most online platforms.
• Instagram/Twitter (1-2 sentences) — One to two quick, punchy sentences that will inspire curiosity within your potential fans.

In our soundbite generation, short-form bios and quick blurbs tend to be used the most.

Now, what type of content will keep your readers engaged, enticing them to search for you on Spotify, find you on Instagram or write a blog post about you?

Best Practices for Writing a Stand-out Bio:

• Make sure it’s engaging and concise (and not too long!)
• Your bio is always written in third person
• If you’re in a band, include the band name, names of each member and their role
• Write a short description of your music that includes 2-3 genres (if you can’t settle on one) and 2-3 influences (well-known and relevant in music today)
• Include related history and background information. Only include what’s necessary here! It must pertain to your career as an artist
• Mention other industry people on your team (producers, engineers, etc.)
• Where have you played? Include prominent festivals and venues
• Have you received or been nominated for any awards?
• Have you opened for a big artist?
• Do you have any third party quotes, press mentions and/or large Spotify playlist placements?
• Radio play?
• Brand endorsements?
• Include a short background of past releases
• Link back to your Web site. It’s also good practice to include one or two links to your social accounts
• Always mention what’s happening with your music right now. Are you about to release a new single? Maybe you just released a music video? 

And finally, always, always, always have someone (or some ones ) proofread your bio! You always want to make sure you’re presenting yourself in a professional manner, especially if you’re reaching out to the media. Fact check, spell check and make sure your bio flows nicely when read aloud.

Here are a few examples to get you started!

Nashville-based pop artist Adara is best known for her collaborations with international DJs, energetic live shows and futuristic-inspired wardrobe. With lush soundscapes and big choruses, her music draws influence from artists like Lady Gaga, Sia, Ellie Goulding and Coldplay. She has collaborated with many well-known DJs, landing her deals with labels such as Enhanced Music, Seeking Blue, Universal Music Group and Sony Music.

Adara’s work with major DJ duo Adventure Club found her performing on the main stage of Imagine Festival in front of thousands. Soon after, her song titled “Moments” with DJ MitiS hit over five million plays on YouTube and propelled her to open for huge acts such as Seven Lions, Illenium, and Prince Royce. She currently has over 18 million views on YouTube.

Her most recent collaboration, “Back Home” (remix by Omar Sherif and Fady & Mina) was voted 2018’s #2 Wonder of the Year, won best remix on the 2018 TrancePodium Awards and received international support from fans and musicians alike, such as massive trance duo Aly & Fila. Her songs have also garnered her support from Armin Van Buuren, The Chainsmokers, Paul Oakenfold, Said the Sky and others.

In a world of over-sexualized leading ladies and a drug-infected pop culture, Adara is a role model for youth, preaching individuality and self-love. She is releasing the music video for her anti-bullying anthem “Alien” on Oct. 2. Her music video is a tribute to her fans and their personal stories of overcoming alienation and bullying. “Alien” is available now on all streaming services. www.instagram.com/adaramusic ( @adaramusic )

Victoria Blade

An Atlanta-based singer/songwriter, Victoria Blade’s classically trained pipes transfer seamlessly into her heartfelt, indie folk style. Think Feist meets the playful charm of The Moldy Peaches. Touted as “a modern folk masterpiece,” Victoria’s dynamic voice carries the clear tone and jazzy soul of a bygone era, while her hopeful lyrics and Americana-infused melodies reflect on the unpredictable life of the modern artist. Her debut solo album Lo-Fi Love Songs released via Already Dead Tapes & Records in May 2019. Keep up with Victoria on Instagram and learn more here: www.victoriablade.com .

icons 2 Ashes

Matt Baggiani and Noah Becker are icons 2 Ashes , i2A for short. The pop duo met at a Calvin Klein Charity golf tournament in Spain. They produce music using a variety of sound sources from drum machines and plug-ins to guitars, and modular synthesizers receiving input signal from biofeedback microphones. Matt has a Skipper Kee named Vincent. Noah has an American Staffordshire Terrier named Alfred.

Outside the studio, the two love to spend time in the Palm Desert preparing for their 2025 Red Planet Fridays residency on Mars, where they plan to perform tracks while doing live interpretive dance on their Onewheels.

Onewheels and desert golf, vegan food and puppy dogs, and long, torturous days in the studio make up the better part of the last couple of years for these two Los Angeles-based composer/producers.

The duo will be releasing their second single “Lights Awn” in October 2019, followed by a new song released every 6-8 weeks through the end of 2020. Catch up with icons 2 Ashes on Facebook and Instagram .

Dallas String Quartet

A fusion of classical and contemporary music on both traditional and electric strings. With the 2016 release of their fourth album DSQ they continue to expand their passionate following on Pandora, Spotify, and Sirius XM radio. DSQ performs intimately as a quartet or with a full accompaniment of drums, guitar and piano. www.dallasstringquartet.com

Axel is in fact the Swedish word for shoulder, but born and bred Stockholmer Mr. Boman could just as easily have been named Rumpa, the Swedish word for ass, since most of his life has been dedicated to moving just that body part. It was around 1992 that Axel’s ass started dragging the confused youngster into all sorts of weird situations – dodgy warehouses, blooming fields, sweaty basements – just about any place that had a nice sound system and someone pumping a fat bassline through it. With his older brother already being a collector of the latest techno and house records, Axel started keeping a strict diet of fresh beats which has kept him alive and kicking ever since.

Building a reputation for himself in the small but very friendly Stockholm club scene, he was soon acknowledged as one of Sweden’s most skillful and best looking DJ dudes. Naturally, production activity followed shortly. Working out of small studios in his hometown as well as in Gothenburg (where Axel took his master’s degree in fine art), tracks like the underground hit “Arcimboldo” on Ourvision Recordings soon landed in the crates of connoisseurs like DJ Koze, Magda and Seth Troxler. His sound is raw, playful and drenched in oceans of soul – just the kind of stuff the dance floor’s of today are longing for.

2010 was the big breakthrough year for Axel and his ass, with the epic screw house anthem “Purple Drank” being released on DJ Koze’s new Pampa Records imprint, going off to London to participate in the Red Bull Music Academy and starting up his own label Studio Barnhus together with Petter (Border Community) and local idiot Kornél Kovacs. 2011 will see Axel releasing a lot of new material and remixes on labels like Permanent Vacation, Moodmusic, Glass Table, Hypercolour, Tartelet and of course Studio Barnhus.

Interested in getting featured by your favorite music blog? Sign up for DIY Music PR’s next free webinar: https://www.diyprgroup.com .

Follow DIY Music PR on Instagram at @diymusicpr . 

What opportunities has your stand-out bio created for you? Comment below!

My 5 Step Guide To Writing A Musician Bio That Gets You Gigs

• September 22, 2023
• Learn how to craft the perfect musician biography.
• Turn a boring, lifeless artist bio into one that captivates readers and gets you the gig.
• Musician bio examples I’ve written are included. Feel free to draw inspiration from them!

Press shots, music videos, merchandise etc are crucial branding elements that form the building blocks of your successful music career.

However, one important pillar of all of these branding elements that I see many producers and bands neglect is their artist biography .

The musician biography is a core component of any self-respecting artist’s press kit, and is prime real estate for highlighting the 5 W’s (who, what, why, when, where) of your artistry.

So why not spend the time to ensure that your artist bio is as perfect as it can be?

As a professional copywriter and someone who has written well over 100 artist bios over the years, I’ve learnt a few tricks and tips along the way and I’d love to take the time to share them with you in this article.

Without further ado, here is my step-by-step guide to writing an effective musician biography.

If you need an affordable musician bio written up by a professional, definitely consider our highly-rated service. Find out more details by clicking here .

My 5-Step Process To Writing An Effective Musician Bio (With Examples)

1. establish your tone of voice.

The tone of voice you decide on is crucial. So before pen even hits the paper, you’ll need to think about the style and writing personality of how you want to portray yourself. There is no one-size-fits-all here, so you’ll need to think about whether you want to come across as: relaxed/casual or formal/professional. Do you want to inject humor and wit into your biography? Or are you more of an introverted, self-deprecating force? Have a think about the characteristics that your music brings to the table.

An example of an opening statement from a casual/relaxed musician bio:

“Hailing from the humble streets of Port Arthur, Texas, USA, rap extraordinaire “Fresh Fred” is a force to be reckoned with.  With a taste for the 808 and dominating yet groovy basslines, Fred’s sound is driving and sub-heavy, and guarantees to have you bouncing like a Caddy fitted with premium hydraulics.”

An example of an opening statement from a formal/professional musician bio:

“Underlying any great success or accomplishment is a story of a tenacious struggle, an unyielding drive, and a passion great enough to persevere, to strive. This sentiment rings true for Buffalo rap talent, JReasn.”

2. Define your artist statement

Your artist statement defines the ‘why’ of your artistry. In other words, why do you make music? Is there an overarching mission that you or your band/project sets out to achieve? Are you fighting for any particular cause? Are you looking to reach out to and relate to a subset or particular community of people who share a common goal with you?

Having a strong artist statement with a clear vision is a great way to connect with your audience, and gain new fans who also share similar views with you.

Here is an example of a well-defined artist statement:

“One element which makes music so powerful is its capacity to take listeners for a ride.  DJ Kosta expresses progression and movement in music, transporting listeners to a magical place where unity and freedom is realised.”

Here is another example of a compelling artist statement:

3. Describe your music

Along with your mission statement, a well-defined description of your sound is critical to a good musician biography. After all, an integral part of an artist biography is to paint a picture of what your music sounds like, in reference to its tonal characteristics, emotions, and vibe.

Grab a beverage, and sit back as you put on a few of your own tracks that you feel represent the sound of your artistry best. Now, note down any adjectives that spring to mind and go over the list when you feel you have enough to draw from.

A tip from here is to pick out some of the good ones and run them through an online thesaurus. Better yet, there’s a free online tool called Visuwords that lets you type in any word you like and it will spit out a beautiful visual representation of similar words that you could use to describe your music with.

Ultimately, think of this writing exercise as an elevator pitch, i.e. you’ve got less than 30 seconds to pitch to someone how your music sounds. What do you say to them? Here are some questions to consider when approaching this section:

• What kind of stories do you tell with your music?
• What emotions do you bring to the table?
• What do you hope your listeners to feel/take away from your music?
• What makes your music unique?

Here is an example of a biography that utilizes strong adjectives and imagery to evoke a compelling description:

“InternalEye’s music is a melting pot of deep and emotionally-charged soundscapes, lush, ambient textures and new-age grooves. His productions are undoubtedly enchanting; a sensory delight capable of transporting listeners to surreal territory bound only by one’s imagination.

While his music spans a range of contemporary styles, one thing is for certain – that his auditory expeditions will take you on a journey of meditative sound and light, releasing harboured tension from within and gently easing the mind towards a state of tranquillity.”

Need more inspiration? Here is another example of a well-written artist summary:

“Asterus’s music encapsulates a brooding and mysterious energy that is intent on surfacing the listener’s deepest, most profound thoughts. A purveyor of haunting atmospherics, lush textures and silky-smooth beats, Asterus’s music is honest and implacable.

While relentlessly dark by nature, he is however, not one to shy away from letting his lighter side shine through. Elements that suggest a hopeful resolve are often utilized, which, when blended together – creates his unique style of bittersweet Trip-Hop.”

Artist Biography (Asterus), written by Producer Hive.

4. Tell your backstory

Somewhere in the body of your biography, should be a brief and succinct paragraph or two about how the artist/band formed. Not everyone has an ‘out of this world’, or mindblowing backstory to tell, but don’t worry.

Here are a few pointers that you could think about to start off this paragraph:

• Mention where you grew up, the cities/areas you’ve lived in, and where you currently live today
• How have those cities/neighbourhoods shaped the sound of your music?
• If there are multiple members in the project, try and think of something interesting about how you met.
• How did you start getting involved in music? How long have you been at it before you started taking it seriously? Is there an interesting story to tell about your musical journey?
• Was there a certain ‘Aha!’ moment or record/song that sparked your desire to become a musician?

Here is an example of an artist biography that illustrates the backstory of an artist in a compelling way:

While only a newcomer to the rap scene, Rane has always been a creator at heart, boasting a musical development grounded in the flute and bass guitar.

Dabbling in hip-hop in his mid-teens, it was only until last year that Rane was introduced to the mechanics of fluid rhymes, wave sampling, and sequenced electronic beats.

With his dear friend ‘Keith’ riding shotgun, Rane took the wheel like a natural, immediately grasping the concept of satirical flippancy through this poignant lyric: “Shoot him in the foot and have him walking with his shell toe”. Finding this superbly comical, Rane has injected his own music with this unique sense of humour.

5. Include your released work and future plans

This paragraph should be relatively straightforward. Make a note of all the releases that have come out, and include any impressive statistics such as:

• the number of plays
• whether it did well in the charts
• won an award
• whether you collaborated on the song/release with anyone notable

Be sure to also tease in any new material that you have upcoming, and when people can expect that music to be released (if applicable).

Here’s an example of a musician biography in relation to releases and future plans:

The Fox & The Hounds have so far released two albums. Their latest album, entitled Peachy Keen, is a screaming six-song odyssey through the satin-and-smoke-filled world of love, loss, betrayal, and revenge in which the band makes its home.

It hit the shelves in 2015 and went on to release 2 music videos for the singles ‘Panic’ and ‘How The Other Half Live’. They were awarded the ‘Top Up-And-Coming Band’ by CBS, as well as ‘Best Song’ for ‘How The Other Half Live’.

If you’re reading this, chances are that you’re ready to launch your music career to the next level. If you’re hard-pressed to find the time to write your own artist bio, why not check out our musician bio writing service ? We’ve written and designed press kits for over 120 happy musicians worldwide.

Sean Fitzjohn

Sean is a Co-founder & Editor In Chief at Producer Hive. Under the moniker  Commit , he has released deep, downtempo music on renowned labels such as Deep Heads and Interchill Records , charting in the top 3 on the Juno Download and Beatport dubstep charts on multiple occasions. His tracks received strong support from figureheads in the scene such as Laurent Garnier, and has performed alongside numerous high-profile DnB and Dubstep acts, including Truth, Phaeleh, and Kryptic Minds. Sean also ran his own mixing and mastering services. As a Top Rated Seller on Fiverr, he helped hundreds of musicians with their mixes, and achieved a consistent 4.9/5 stars over the course of his work there.

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How to Write a Music Bio: A Guide for Bands & Artists

Your artist or band bio is often the first thing fans or press contacts will read about you. So it’s important to present yourself well.

While it’s true that ultimately your music will do the real talking, your bio is a big chance to make a first impression. Whether that’s in a press release, on your Spotify profile or on your website.

So let’s discuss how to write the perfect artist bio.

How to Write a Bio for Musicians

Use social proof.

‘Social Proof’ can be the difference between an effective bio and a forgettable one. But what is it?

In layman's terms, Social Proof is the psychological principle that people copy the actions of others because they assume that those actions are right.

The Social Proof could be positive quotes or features from bloggers, influencers or journalists. It could be your follower numbers on social media or any awards you've won or achievements you’ve earned. Anything that showcases your existing popularity.

Demonstrating an existing fan base and success will directly influence how seriously people take you as a musician.

Tell Your Story

An interesting story can help people engage and relate to your music more deeply. You can break your story down into three basic parts:

- Where you came from

- When you began making music

- Where you are now

Try not to turn your story into an essay. Remember you should keep your bio snappy, so cover this in no more than one short paragraph.

The Music Matters Most

Telling your life story is great, but in the end, it all comes down to the music.

While great music speaks for itself, you should try to describe your sound as vividly as possible to make sure whoever is reading your bio gets a good idea of what to expect.

Make sure to state how you fit into a certain genre (or genres), talk about any key instrumentation (is your track guitar driven or vocal-led?) and perhaps list your inspirations or comparisons to well-known artists with a similar sound.

Consider the reader

Musician bios have multiple uses, so the bio you post to your Spotify account shouldn’t be the exact same one you use for a press release or on your music Wikipedia page .

You should tailor a press bio to make things as easy as possible for the journo on the receiving end. Make sure to include clear links to your music with a call-to-action like ‘Listen here’.

Here’s a good test for your press release bio. Could a journalist copy and paste your whole bio and publish it as a feature? Many journos do exactly that to save time.

Keep the structure simple

Keep your bio brief and easily digestible. Two or three paragraphs and around 200 - 300 words total is enough.

Your first sentence is arguably the most important, so try to sum up the most important points in the first 20 to 30 words. How would you describe yourself in just one sentence?

Avoid writing really long sentences too. You need to keep the reader on the hook.

Keeping the advice above in mind, here’s a quick overview of how you could structure your bio.

Intro: Try to sum yourself & your music up in one sentence. ‍ Your Music: Genres, instrumentation, comparisons, etc. ‍ Your Story: Where you began & where you are now. ‍ Social Proof: Quotes, social following, achievements.

Remember, you could change up the order of this structure, depending on the message you want to relay at the very beginning or very end of your bio. You know your music better than anyone, so it's up to you!

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Do you have any questions or advice about writing a band or artist bio? Let us know in the comments below.

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August 9, 2022

Write a Killer Artist Bio (short, medium, and long versions)

Subscribers Dan and Patricia both recently asked about effective band/performer bios and promotional blurbs.

So….let’s dive in.

(Rather watch/listen to this article? Click on the video below.)

How to Write a Killer Musician Bio

(for storytellers and performing artists too…).

If you’ve spent any time on this blog, you’ve heard me say  “make it about THEM, not you”  more times than you’d care to recall.

And still, I see almost nobody doing this.

There’s a huge opportunity to stand out from the crowd when you begin with the audience in mind – what does your READER care about?

Even when writing something as “all about you” as your bio or publicity blurbs, start with them.

Things Your Reader DOESN’T Care About:

• the awards you’ve won (unless directly relevant)
• who you’ve “shared the stage with”
• your formal training
• the names of each CD you’ve released
• your radio airplay

Not that those things are not important – they are – and you’ll want to use many of them to your benefit in your promo materials.

But those aren’t the things that are going to inspire anyone to take action and book you, or come see you perform.

There has to be something in it for them.

Things Your Reader DOES Cares About:

• will it be fun for the audience?
• if fun doesn’t apply, will it be compelling?
• is this act professional?
• will people like it and come out to support it?
• have other people liked it in the past?
• is it a good fit for us?

Working on a Musician’s Bio

With the above in mind, let’s take a look at a bio that was sent to me recently as a rough draft by one of my subscribers.

I’m going to print it verbatim, and offer my comments and suggestions for some improvements.

My general thoughts appear below the bio, and specific comments are in red throughout.

The RUCKUS JUICE JUG STOMPERS have been bringing their old-time, good-time jug band music to audiences in western New York since 2008. Hailed as “America’s happiest music,” jug band music has its roots in the country blues, old-time folk, and early jazz traditions of American music. (STOP RIGHT THERE – I  would reverse those first two sentences and sell the reader on the idea of jug band music in the very first line. Keep in mind that some percentage of your readers will drop off with every single sentence in your bio – yes, we’re all pretty lazy and distracted – so you want to sell them IMMEDIATELY on the idea that you are offering something special, and in your case, really fun, and there’s a good reason to keep reading. Sentence #1 doesn’t do that, but sentence #2 sure does.)  The band’s captivating, high-energy performances transport audiences back in time as RUCKUS JUICE blends musicianship, creativity and tradition. (Love that you are talking about what the audience will experience.) It’s a “bottomless barrel of musical ear candy” in the words of one eloquent fan. Fans tell the band time and time again that they loved dancing, stomping, singing and kazooing along, too! (I might lose the “fans tell the band” line, as it’s not as credible as the other stuff, but the description of what the audience does during a show is a keeper – how about combining that with sentence #3 so it it reads “…..as RUCKUS JUICE keeps them dancing, stomping, singing, ….”)

    Like any traditional jug band,   (First five words not needed and possibly work against you – you don’t necessarily want to be “like any traditional jug band”)   the JUG STOMPERS’ instrumentation juxtaposes   (The next four words aren’t necessary either – attention spans are short   – I might start the paragraph right here with “Juxtaposing  homespun instruments (jug, washboard, and kazoos) with traditional string band instruments (banjo, guitar, doghouse bass, fiddle and the less-traditional banjolin) (combine previous sentence with next sentence) This is a band that knows how to entertain. Audience members have described the RUCKUS JUICE JUG STOMPERS as “excellent musicianship combined with entertaining showpersonship,” “upbeat music with catchy lyrics that make people of all ages want to sing along,” “high energy with a feel-good vibe,” and “lots good-natured fun.” The RUCKUS JUICE JUG STOMPERS are led by a three-time winner of Rochester’s Best Busker competition, and every performer in the band exudes a love of music. It’s not unusual for the unusual to happen at RUCKUS JUICE’s loose and free-spirited performances—you never know when they’ll bust out a wacky instrument or special guest musicians will hop up and raise a ruckus with them. (Love all this, a little worried about the unsubstantiated quotes but I think they work here. Over time, I would replace those with attributable quotes like “The Rochester D&C said xyz about the band.” I’m also a little concerned that some great lines are buried midway through the paragraph. If there’s a way to bring out the “best busker” line, for instance, that is strong “social proof” that you guys are talented and fun. I said earlier that mentioning awards you’ve won is not usually a priority in a bio, but the exception is when it’s DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO WHAT YOU’RE “SELLING” – in this case, you have been recognized as an exceptional “busker,” which greatly increases the likelihood that your band is a lot of fun. If you’d won “best male vocalist in the 2018 Rochester Music Awards,” that doesn’t necessarily support what you’re promoting, which is a good time.)

The RUCKUS JUICE JUG STOMPERS formed when like-minded musicians kept running into each other on Bluegrass Tuesdays at Johnny’s Irish Pub and decided to form a jug band. They cobbled their name together from a line in a Memphis Jug Band song about some particularly potent moonshine (pronounced “roo-kus juice”) and dubbed themselves JUG STOMPERS to pay homage to Gus Cannon. (I would reverse first two sentences here also. #2 is more compelling than #1, and may answer a question in your reader’s mind. You could even start the paragraph with “So what IS ruckus juice?”)  The band draws its repertoire from nearly a century of musical history, true to the traditional canon of jug band music from the 1920s and ‘30s and the revival of the ‘60s, and influenced by the more contemporary music of the latest half-century. Ever-evolving, the band also peppers in several original compositions that feel like they could have been written long ago. Fans appreciate what they’ve called a “clever and eclectic repertoire” and “a great laundry list of standards that patrons of all ages can enjoy!”

Over the past decade, the RUCKUS JUICE JUG STOMPERS have performed at many clubs, breweries, wineries and cideries in western New York. The band has more festivals than they can count under their belt, including the Lilac Festival, the Real Beer Expo, Steampunk Festival, Park Ave Fest, Ribfest, Clothesline Arts Fest, I-Square Fall Festival and the Canandaigua Arts & Music Fest. (Ditto for this paragraph – sentence 2 is stronger than sentence 1. More gigs than you can count beats “have performed at many clubs, breweries, etc” any day.)  The RUCKUS JUICE JUG STOMPERS have been invited back for performances at neighborhood events, local festivals, senior living facilities, residential facilities for at-risk youth, summer camps and school art shows. (Invited back is key! If there’s a way to combine the first three sentences into two, then sentence one is all about more gigs than you can count, and sentence two is all about being invited back)  Crowds enjoy the “historical and hysterical commentary on songs, band banter, [and] accepting requests.” One of the highest compliments we receive is that we are asked to play fans’ private parties and weddings. (You switched to first person here – saying “we” – bios should always be written in the third person as if you’re talking about some entity other than yourself, as you did in the rest of this bio. I also think this last sentence is a bit too unsubstantiated and generally sounds less professional than the rest.)

General Thoughts on This Band Bio

It’s really well written.

Kudos. Covers lots of bases, plenty of variety, and written in a very accessible style. Also took the needs of the reader in mind.

It Piqued My Interest a Number of Times

You guys sound professional but also FUN, which, for the type of music you perform, is ideal. Made me want to see you perform.

It’s Damn Long!

I’d suggest preparing three versions of this bio – short, medium, and long.

(Most people will never get past the short version.)

You want to make it dead simple for media, bookers, and potential audience to get a very quick handle on what you’re about.

There will be a place for the long version (I’m thinking of your website, a concert program, festival booklet, etc), but I suspect something shorter and punchier will be used far more often.

Sample Short Band Bios

(~50 words)  Hailed as “America’s happiest music,” jug band music has its roots in the country blues, old-time folk, and early jazz traditions of American music. The Ruckus Juice Jug Stompers, led by a three-time winner of Rochester’s Best Busker competition, dares their audiences not to sing, dance, stomp, and even kazoo along!

Or, how about this?

(~50 words)  What happens when the three-time winner of Rochester’s Best Busker competition assembles a jug band to perform “America’s happiest music” with all manner of banjolins, washboards, kazoos, and fiddles? Well, people dance, stomp, and sing. A lot. This is The Ruckus Juice Jug Stompers.

How to Make a Medium Length Artist Bio

(80-100 words or so)  Take the short version of your bio and add some social proof (quotes, high profile gigs, etc), show some humor (if appropriate) or personality, mention some of the more intriguing or unusual instruments that you play, or your unique repertoire.

( My own band ‘s bio starts “With three voices, 55 strings and a pair of cow bones, The Canal Street String Band puts a brand-new shine on some seriously fun old American music.” )

Long Version

More or less what we ended up with above, but I might give the second, third and fourth paragraphs each a heading, just to make it a bit easier to digest.

Something like “A RUCKUS JUICE PERFORMANCE” (para. 2), “BAND ORIGINS AND ETHOS” (para. 3), and “BAND EXPERIENCE” (para. 4)

Writing an Artist Bio: Other Considerations

Some other thoughts and suggestions for writing (or improving) your own bio:

• be intriguing
• show personality
• tell a story – people are wired to respond to them
• write each sentence with one objective – to get the reader to the next sentence
• did I mention to make it about them? who are you writing for and what do they (or their audiences) get out of a booking with you?

One More (Great) Idea

Many thanks to Dan Walpole, author of the rough draft above, for the following idea, which I love.

“Going to a website like WordArt.com to create a word cloud of my draft of my bio helped me see which words were used frequently and what themes might emerge if someone skims my bio. I then played around a bit with the art and generated several random ones until I found a juxtaposition that struck my fancy. I’m still not sure what I’d do with it, but here it is, in case it’s of interest to you.

As the TLDR (“too long, didn’t read”) culture emerges, this may be the new bio.”

• it conveys what you do almost instantly
• it demonstrates some level of creativity and/or taste
• it gives visual learners something very accessible

So why not make one of these to visually accompany your bio?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. The “Comments” section is just below.

About The Blog

Along the way, he’s learned a great deal about supporting a family of four as a musician.

The Educate and Entertain blog provides articles, tips, encouragements, and how-to’s for regional performers (in any region) interested in making a great full-time living in the arts.

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39 Responses to Write a Killer Artist Bio (short, medium, and long versions)

I wanted to add, that from what I’ve seen of invite backs so far, it’s largely due to nepotism and cronyism, not actual ability. That sucks, but it’s also a reality, maybe not for you. But like I said already, my reality doesn’t matter to you.

I’m new to your blog and I have to say, this is the worst post you’ve put out, in how smug and arrogant you come across. What about newcomers who don’t yet have credentials, you ever consider that, what do we put in our bios? You only give examples of someone long in the game, have you forgotten that not everyone is in your position, with 30+ years in the business and oh yeah, the son of a banker (so you’re from wealth)?

I’m new to what I’m doing (in my 30s, not 50s like your readers) and this blog post doesn’t want to help people like me, in fact it mocks people like me who haven’t been invited back or do have to rely on audience feedback due to shitty hosts and unprofessional venues, my audience being my fanbase. It presumes performers not invited back can’t be very good at what they do, unlike you, ‘the superstar’. We don’t all live in the wonderland you do and you should remember that, when giving advice, if you can see beyond your own swelled head. I’m disappointed in you Dave, I think you’re so long in the tooth you’ve forgotten how to relate to other people not in your position. Do you even know what it’s like to be a beginner, can you even remember?? I’m sure you had shitty hosts back then too and a non-existent resume as well.

dude chill out.

Thorough, insightful and the push I needed to help a friend. Thank you for taking the time to create & share this.

My pleasure!

Hey! I wrote a short bio-inspired by this article!

“Gary Albert takes audiences on captivating, magical and awe-inspiring sonic journeys with what has been called “… a multi-instrumental dream” and “… a cosmic one-man symphony”.

The lines are blurred between a poetic neoclassical, impressionistic sound that is uniquely his own, with an emotional electronic and goose-bump-inducing cinematic flair.

Balancing a timeless sense of organic instrumentation with his fluttering flutes, pulsing pianos and velvet vocals, all combined with expertly nuanced looping, layering and dreamy FX, this compelling musical cocktail invites you to sit back and drink in a riveting and emotionally arresting live performance experience to remember”.

Glad it was helpful!

Hey folks – I just published a new YouTube video on writing a bio. Hope this is handy for you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10vZ_1TENkI

Very helpful, educating & eye-opening. I liked the distinction you made between promo materials & Bio. Good point. Also the analysis of their bio. An interesting point here is that they didn’t mention any band member personally nor his biography ( shouldn’t a Bio include some Biography ? ) but maybe it is unnecessary…I don’t know. The 2nd 50 words version is the killer one in my opinion. Great intro. You’ve earned a new reader 🙂

Thanks for the kind comments, and yes, a longer-length bio can certainly include personal info on the musicians.

Excellent advice.

Currently writing my artistic history now. Currently never thought it would be so hard to do. I’ve never bragged on myself before just for others. This will be the first one.

Hi Dave! I’ve been hired to write bios for a few bands for the first time and I was looking for something that would help me figure out how to plan out my rough drafts, I found this article to be incredibly helpful. What I most appreciate is the editing breakdown in each paragraph and the tips on what to focus on and cut the unnecessary things. I feel prepared to take on these assignments and turn in the best bios possible. Thank you so much!

You’re very welcome! Good luck with the bios.

What I most appreciate is the editing breakdown in each paragraph as well as the suggestion for a short, medium, and long bio. I love words and despise the TLDR culture but alas, here we are!!! You also confirm the need to highlight personality which is how I write bios! Thanks for your time.

Thanks for the good words, Alysia!

Hey Dave. Thanks for your great articles and spot on advice. I needed to write a short artist bio this week, and knew exactly where to turn to figure out what I should do. Following your blog has certainly helped me get a lot more work as a storyteller. I am grateful.

Awesome, Darrin. That makes it all worthwhile!

Thanks so much for this great post. I’m revising my bio, but was getting stuck. Your guidance is a real help.

Glad it was useful, Afi, and good luck with your bio!

Great article! I found this through a google search, and it has definitely been the most helpful for me in working on my bio! I feel weird putting myself forward sometimes and worry about coming across as boastful. That pointer of making the bio about the people who will be hearing my music really helped me to put my writing into perspective and got me over the hurdle to actually write it! In hindsight, my old bio was basically the epitome of what you said not to do, and now I think I will have something much more engaging

Awesome, Nate! Best of luck with it…

Right from the first comment I knew you nailed it. Another excellent post with truly useful advice. If musicians, songwriters, performers, artists of any kind, read this post they would have more success promoting themselves. Once again: thanks. 🙂

You are very welcome Naomi!

I always love your posts and think you were spot on with the suggestions and revisions in the bio example. However, I have to disagree with you on 2 points regarding what the reader doesn’t care about…Who you’ve shared the stage with and Radio airplay. As long as you have opened for and/or toured with a National act I think that is very relevant and adds credibility to an act. Obviously if you have just played with other “local bands” I agree…don’t out it in there but if it’s a National act and especially if you’ve shared the stage with several different ones I think it can “one up” you from other acts. Regarding Radio play…yes not quite AS relevant but obviously if you are booking a show in say Lincoln Nebraska and not from the area but a local or College station in the area is playing the heck out of your music that alone could make or break the difference as to whether a venue books you there.

I do agree with you though as I see MANY bios that say way too much “amateur” sounding things like they won a grade school singing contest etc… Again, love your stuff just wanted to share my input based on my experience as well ;), cheers

Hey Chris – great to hear from you, and thanks for sharing your thoughts. And you bring up a great point in terms of different things mattering in different situations. The Lincoln NE example is spot on – I was thinking more in terms of the kinds of gigs I do in regional arts centers, libraries, community events, etc, but for a touring musician it would be a different set of concerns.

Yes, makes sense. Either way you brought up great points 🙂

What a cool article, it’s so helpful to my blog

This is very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to share this

Happy to Chris, thanks for letting me know.

We appreciate your dedication and support to the music community.

Continued success! Johnny Bash (vocalist) & David Aaron V.O. & Tap dancer talent Chicago

awesome… This is what I av been looking for. Thanks Dave Ruch

That’s great to hear, beatbox5.

Wow, just skimming this article has provided me with invaluable info. I’m gonna dissect this thing and absorb all the goodness I can get out if it, Thank you so much for answering what I thought was a simple question and all the subsequent followup questions I would have had from a lesser article.

Glad you found this Derrick!

Dear Dave Thank you for your permanent help to musicians needing advice. I wish I had enough time to read everything you publish. Probably, I have to learn a lot more to apply your suggestions to my own needs. As a free-lance orchestra conductor, it sems to me that I miss a supporting network, money and fame. -a network : if I write (or call, or even sometimes meet) people, it is never as efficient as when someone else recommends me, especially if he (or she) has some kind of power. -money : that goes without saying. In any field, with money one opens all doors, gets the press articles needed, TV shows and the like. -fame : especially in the field of conducting, be famous (for any good or bad reason) is much more important than be good. Who knows the difference between a great conductor and a baton shaker ? Only the musicians in the orchestra. No journalist, no political man, no decision maker ever asked the opinion of the musicians… If you set a monkey in front of the New York Philharmonic, the orchestra will play anyway. Maybe less greatly than with a true conductor, but it will play. So, we face an unfair competition. I did not find the true way yet… Yours truly. JF

Greatly appreciate this blog Dave! What it impressed on me is my need to compress / focus / feature what I do best.

And I looked up the Rukus Jug Band Stompers on youtube–they do look like a lot of fun!

And I did find all of the Ohio source material you suggested.

Enjoying your posts. Thanks again.

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How To Write A Music Artist Bio

Vanessa Maria is a DJ, Broadcaster at Foundation FM , Podcast Host at Resident Advisor and Digital Marketer at Sony for Black Butter Records . Named as one of the most important young people in music, she is dedicated to mental health advocacy in music, media and beyond.

A good music artist bio might be more important than you think. It’s an essential tool that tells people about who you are and why they should listen to your music. This means it’s worth thinking carefully about, crafting a bio which is authentic, genuine and compelling is a game changer.

A good artist profile can entice new listeners to take a chance with your music and it may well be the reason why someone may come and see you perform. It is also a key part of your musician press kit, especially once you start thinking about how to release music and how to get booked for festivals . It goes without saying that your music should do the talking but learning how to write a musician profile will only aid you in getting your music heard.

When acting as your own publicist, there are several fundamental areas of PR that you need to keep in mind. The first is about telling your artist’s story. We all crave the narratives and backstories behind our favourite artists, so having one ready puts you one step ahead. It is an important first step to your music promotion plan and you’ll need it for social media channels, grant applications , festival bookings and spotify profiles. But, of course, it’s easier said than done. It can be challenging to write about yourself, especially if you have just started out. But you are in the business of self-promotion so it's time to get comfortable with this integral side of your music career.

Writing a professional bio is an art form, but this step by step guide will help you to perfect your bio and move you on to the next stages of your music career!

1. Document everything

You might ask yourself what should I include in a bio? Make sure you don’t leave anything out from your career so far. Take note of all your basic information and major highlights in your music career.

Here are some prompts to help you:

• Location - Where you're based and where you grew up
• Where you started - The point at which you started to make music, release music and perform shows. Why did you gravitate towards music?
• Your genre and style - A description of your sound
• Your influences - This is crucial. Even if you think your sound is unique, someone before you may have a similar sound. If you can identify them and communicate that across, you’re more likely to grab the attention of your reader
• Your current releases - EPs, albums, mixes, remixes, etc.
• Key achievements - Have you been nominated for or received any music awards? Have you headlined a show or opened for notable artists? Do you have any quotes, press features or Spotify playlist placements ? Have you had any Radio plays? Have you secured Brand endorsements?
• What are you working on right now? - Touring, recording, collaborating, etc.
• Other related projects - Your radio show, event organizing, etc.

2. Establish your Unique Selling Point

You need to capture your future fans' attention. Entice the reader in with a narrative that is unique to who you are. What tools do you use to make your music? Is there an event in your childhood that makes you who you are? Are you particularly inspired by a person, place or memory? Make it personal, make it specific and build a story around who you are and what you do.

3. Provide evidence

You may believe certain things about your music but what are other people saying about you? The more social proof you can provide around your work the better! Have you been featured in any magazines, playlists or ones to watch lists? Speak about it and make it known. Demonstrating that you have an existing fan base and weight within the industry will directly influence how seriously people will take you as an artist.

4. Refine and Structure

Keep your musical biography simple. The structure should flow and the paragraph should be no more than 200-300 words long. The first sentence will be the most important, so try to hook the reader in with an overview of who you are and the music you make.

You might, on first take, want to write everything you need down. Afterwards, edit ruthlessly and refine your bio so it is clear, succinct and engaging. You may want to split your text into 2-3 paragraphs to make things easier to read. Remember, practise makes perfect, so make as many edits as you need.

However, it's important to note that there are bios for different platforms. How you write an artist bio on Spotify is very different to how you write an artist bio on Instagram.

You may need different versions of the same bio to cater to specific things:

• Long bios (500 – 750 words) — Use this for your Wikipedia, EPK, Web site
• Short bios (250-350 words) — SoundCloud, Spotify and most online platforms
• Instagram/Twitter (1-2 sentences) — 1-2 sentences that will captivate your reader and potential new fans

Here is a rough guide on a general structure you may want to follow:

• Intro: Try to sum yourself & your music up in one sentence
• Your Music: Genres, instrumentation, comparisons, etc.
• Your Story: Where you began & where you are now
• Social Proof: Quotes, social following, achievements

5.Perfect the style

Tone and style are very important. Work on the delivery and sound of your bio so you can reflect the type of artist that you are.

Many people ask, should an artist bio be written in first person? The answer is no. Write in third person and take a factual, neutral tone when showing the reader your journey and progression as an artist. Make sure to avoid passive sentences and use the active voice instead. This is where the subject of your sentence is performing the verb. e.g:

Passive voice: Boundaries are pushed by Beyonce’s music, which captivates on a journey for experimentation and intimacy.

Active voice: Beyonce’s music pushes boundaries and captivates us on a journey for experimentation and intimacy.

Key things to remember:

• ‘Compose’ - writing the instrumental portion of a song
• ‘Write’ - writing lyrics
• ‘Produce’ (Hip-hop/ Electronic music) - refers to beat making and creating the instrumental track
• ‘Produce’ (country, folk, rock, or other kinds of more organic music music) - refers to record producing and being a creative manager during a recording session
• ‘Composer’ - writing music for TV and film
• ‘Songwriter’ - writing pop songs that contain lyrics and instrumental accompaniment

6. Update regularly!

Go back to your bio on a monthly basis and continuously update it with your new releases, projects and accomplishments. Make sure you don’t distort the truth or over-exaggerate.

Great things take time, so it's okay if you're not on a world tour yet. You can write an amazing bio without having won a grammy- Good luck!

For more music industry tips, tricks and advice , or to access up-to-date music industry news , head to the Pirate.com Blog . Here you can access advice on how to find a music manager , how to release music and more

To hone your skills as a podcaster, band, producer or DJ, book a Pirate.com studio in the UK, US or Germany .

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How To Write A Great Musician Bio By Yourself [With Examples]

In an ideal world, you would get a professional to help you with this. But hiring a writer can be pricey. And, if you’re just getting your start in music, you probably don’t have much money.

I understand. I’ve been in your shoes.

Early on in my music career, I once had my sister write my bio. Not necessarily because she was the best candidate to write it, but because I felt an outside perspective might be helpful. I also wanted to enlist the help of family, friends and fans to further my career.

Getting help is not a bad idea. But if you get your 14-year-old cousin who spends all his time in a basement staring at a computer to write your bio, you might end up regretting that decision because you will probably have to rewrite and edit it yourself when all is said and done.

It’s altogether too easy to end up with a crappy bio. So, my commitment to you is to help you understand what makes a good bio and what doesn’t. I want to set you up to win.

Are you ready? Read on.

But first, if it's your aim to do music professionally, you'll want to check out our free ebook while it's still available:

Free eBook: Discover how real independent musicians like you are making $4,077 - $22,573+ monthly via Youtube, let me know where to send the details:

Your Music Bio Is Not A Long List Of Credentials

Great. You were a finalist at such and such contest. You played at XYZ festival. You shared the stage with Gene Simmons. You got a bit of radio airplay from that station down the street.

If I was a publicist or media person looking to cover you in a blog or magazine feature, I would be horrified to find your bio read like a long list of credentials. Even as an event organizer, I would be at a loss as to how to promote you.

Why? Because I wouldn’t be able to tell a story .

Now, don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying your credentials shouldn’t be a part of your bio. They can lend credibility to your name and boost your profile. If you can get Jay-Z to write a great quote for you, go for it!

But don’t make your bio read like a resume. You can always create a section under your bio called “Career Highlights” or something like that and share your accomplishments in point form. First and foremost, your bio should tell a story. About you.

Recognize that your bio isn’t for you. It’s for your fans, event organizers, venue owners and media people. It’s a tough balancing act, but there is a way to satisfy everyone.

I have an example of an artist whose bio reads like a list of credentials. But I’m not going to link to his site. I’m also going to blur out his name to protect his anonymity. Still, it’s a good example of what not to do , so I’m going to show you. This is not a bio. It is a resume .

Your Bio Is A Story

It should be a compelling story .

Your bio should be full of interesting and compelling facts. If your band is made up entirely of brothers and cousins, mention that! If you were a carny for a few years before you discovered your love of music, mention that! If you went on a trip across the country on a train in search of yourself and ended up reuniting with your long-lost songwriting partner, mention that!

I’m not going to point to my bio as a shining example of what and what not to do, but people who’ve read it have generally been impressed. I’m not surprised by that, because I concentrated on just the highlights in my life – the critical events and turning points that shaped who I am, especially as a musician.

In my bio, I talk about:

• Growing up in Japan, and how I came to love manga, video games, artwork, and J-pop.
• How my dad passed away in a motorcycle crash when I was 13.
• How one of my dad’s colleagues ended up coming all the way to Canada from Japan to give me her deceased son’s guitar.
• Learning to play the guitar at 17.
• Recording and releasing my first solo album in 2006.

So, when I say you should tell a story, I’m not saying you should tell your life story. Please focus on the most interesting bits and don’t be afraid to dramatize a bit.

Now, I’m going to show you an example of a bio that tells a great story – Christian rocker Lincoln Brewster’s bio .

To be honest, I hate how the bio begins:

For as long as he can remember, music has been an integral part of Lincoln Brewster’s life.

I’m sure that’s not unique to Lincoln. There are a lot of musicians that could say that! But then, at the end of the first paragraph, it gets into the meat of the story:

[Music] was a refuge for Lincoln and his mom in a home plagued by substance abuse and domestic violence.

Whoa. Now I’m drawn in.

His bio goes onto tell the story of how his mom went through a painful divorce, forcing his family to relocate in California . It also highlights his work with Journey singer Steve Perry.

Overall, Lincoln’s bio is simple, to the point, and engaging. It’s not overly long either. That’s what you want. If a media person was interested in covering you, this is what they’d be looking for.

Gather Relevant Quotes & Testimonials

So, you probably aren’t a household name yet.

And, that’s perfectly fine. But that means you could use a bit of a credibility boost.

Now, the same thing that applies to credentials also applies to quotes – you can easily insert too many into your bio, making it completely unreadable.

A big collection of quotes is about as bad as a big list of credentials. Why? Because, again, they don’t tell a story. And, even if they do, it won’t be a cohesive story.

But used sparingly, they can enhance your bio and bring it to life.

I love Helen Austin’s bio. It’s the perfect mix of story, credentials, and quotes.

It begins like this:

After years of writing songs while making a living as a musical stand-up comedian, Helen Austin’s move to Canada in 2002 was the catalyst for her music career.

Perfect. I’m drawn in immediately.

Then, the second paragraph establishes the kind of artist she is while also drawing attention to the things she’s accomplished:

15 years and six albums later, Helen is a prolific songwriter with over 70 TV, movie and ad placements, awards and competition wins under belt including a JUNO, a Canadian Folk Music Award and the top John Lennon Songwriting Contest Prize of Song of the Year.

Again, perfect. It doesn’t drone on and on about what she’s accomplished. It nicely summarizes the most important points of her career in just one paragraph.

Then, you’ll find a couple of quotes that add to the bio and Helen’s credibility. These quotes come from Indie Music Review Magazine and I Am Entertainment Magazine.

Now, it doesn’t matter whether we've heard of these publications. The only thing that matters is that these quotes add to the bio.

Sometimes quotes are better left out than in. I’ll talk more about editing in a moment, but testimonials can sometimes kill the flow of the bio or not add anything to it.

Something general, like “the sounds coming from this band are truly inspiring” or “the best music I’ve ever heard” may stroke your ego but do nothing to explain who you are or what you sound like. Save these quotes for your press or testimonials page.

The point is that quotes are not mandatory. But if they help tell the story, by all means, use them.

Edit Your Bio Mercilessly

Once you’ve put the basic structure of your bio together, it’s time to start editing. This is the last piece of the puzzle, but it's one of the most important.

Your bio should be engaging. As I mentioned earlier, you shouldn’t tell your life story. You can save that for your memoirs or autobiography. What you want to do is identify and highlight the key moments that brought you to where you are.

Editing is an important process, no matter how good a writer you may think you are. When I write bios for artists, I help them create four assets:

• A short bio.
• A medium length bio.
• A long bio.

It’s nice to have all four, because you’re going to need bios of varying lengths for different purposes. Places like Twitter and Bandcamp don’t leave enough room for you to post longer bios, right? So, if you only have one version of your bio, you’re going to have to edit it down at some point anyway.

Also keep in mind that if Lincoln Brewster only needs three paragraphs (three longer paragraphs to be fair) to relay his story, you don’t need much more than that either. Don’t get too long-winded.

While editing, you’re also going to want to look out for spelling, grammar, punctuation, tone and voice. You’re going to want to get rid of filler words like “that”, “really”, “actually”, “totally”, “a lot”, “a bit” and others where possible.

I know it may seem tedious. That’s why I say in an ideal scenario you would be working with a pro to get this done because it can get kind of technical. Even if you just hire someone to edit your bio after it’s been written, you could benefit from that. These are the kinds of things I’m aware of as a writer, but you may not be aware of as an artist. You may notice that the only time I’ve used the words “really” and “actually” in this guide is when I told you not to use them!

So, it’s okay to get all your thoughts down on paper upfront. But once you have it all in place, edit mercilessly. Determine exactly what needs to be said and what doesn’t need to be said. Remove extraneous words and sentences. Make your bio thoroughly engaging.

Always End With A Call To Action

Why do I say that?

Because they don’t offer the reader any next steps.

To me, the best place to have a contact form is below your bio. If someone was reading it and interested in booking you or featuring you on their blog or publication, this is what they’d be looking for.

Now, don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying they wouldn’t visit your contact page. But why leave it to chance?

If your name is Britney Spears, then disregard what I just said. But I’m relatively certain Britney is not reading this.

If you’re a household name, then you probably have tons of people coming to you wanting to work with you already. But if not, then you’re only sabotaging yourself by not including a clear call to action at the end of your bio.

Even if it’s just “have a listen to our latest single below”, you should give your readers something to do after perusing your bio.

How To Write A Great Musician Bio By Yourself, Final Thoughts

I’ve long held that the best bio is a “copy and paste” bio – a bio that media people can literally copy and paste into their article, blog post or document as need be. That’s how you know you’ve done a good job – your bio tells a good enough story that the media person doesn’t feel the need to go to work on it from scratch.

Pique the curiosity of the reader. Make them go, “wow”. Make them go, “I’d love to learn more about that”. Provide interviewers with potential talking points so they can dig deeper into your story with you.

P.S. Remember though, none of what you've learned will matter if you don't know how to get your music out there and earn from it. Want to learn how to do that? Then get our free ‘5 Steps To Profitable Youtube Music Career' ebook emailed directly to you!

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How To Write An Artist Bio For Your Spotify Profile

It all starts with music. But the moment you decide to become an  artist  — next to being a  musician  — your brand becomes important. That’s why we kick off with a branding assignment.

Shorten your bio to one paragraph

• Find your one most important brand association.
• Write your pitch bio.

There are multiple types of biographies.

The goal of this task is to position your artist’s brand story. Let’s say I just discovered your music (we’ll cover that later this challenge). I’m with friends in a bar, so I can’t let them listen. I need a great story to talk about you and persuade my friends to follow you.

I call that story a pitch. It needs to be short and persuasive. So short, you can use it everywhere online. So persuasive, a venue that booked you can copy-paste this pitch to sell tickets.

The pitch has a standard format:

• First sentence: Explain WHY you do what you do.
• Find and describe your most important brand association. A brand is a summary of associations. Brands may evoke images of happiness, of fun, of wealthiness, while others you associate with being a cheap or good value.
• Second sentence: Explain HOW you do that.
• Describe how your actions contribute to your brand. If your brand is about happiness, explain how you let people achieve happiness.
• Third and final sentence: Explain WHAT you do.
• Describe what you deliver. For most artists it’s a description of their music genre.

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How to Write an Effective Music Bio: The Musician’s Guide

Writing an artist bio is one of the hardest things to do as a musician. It’s hard enough to write—let alone write about yourself!

But your music bio is one of the most important parts of your musician press kit. Especially once you release music , you need a solid promotion plan. So a good bio is your starting point.

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Your bio is a key tool that communicates why people should care about you and your music. A good bio gets people intrigued to listen to your music—especially if you’re not already known. It may well be the reason why more people come see your show!

You need an ‘about’ blurb for all your social channels, gigs and festival applications because people crave the stories and context behind the music.

So here’s your step-by-step guide to writing your best artist bio possible with tips from seasoned professionals.

Hot tip:   If you’re intimidated about writing your bio or if you want a seasoned professional to write it for you, connect dozens of professional music writers on LANDR Network and get a professional bio written for you.

1. Take Notes

Open up a blank document on your computer. Write down all your basic info and everything you consider a milestone in your music career. Point form is fine!

Need some help? Answer these questions:

• Where are you based?
• When did you start making music, releasing music and/or playing shows?
• What was the ‘aha’ moment that made you start making music?
• What genre can people expect to hear?
• How do you describe your sound? Get specific.
• What are your influences?
• What are your releases so far? (EPs, albums, mixes, remixes, etc.)
• What are the most notable shows you’ve played?
• What are you doing right now (touring, recording, collaborating, etc.)?
• What other related projects are you involved in (a radio show, event organizing, etc.)?

2. Start Simple

Once you’ve filled out the bullet points above, you’re ready to start writing.

Begin by fleshing out your notes into full sentences. Write in the third person (i.e. “He/She/They” instead of “I”). Start with a factual, neutral tone.

Avoid opinion based phrases like: Incredibly influential, critically acclaimed, wickedly talented, etc. Leave that up to journalists and fans.

Write everything you need to, then edit ruthlessly. Cut out 50%.

In the editing phase, make your music bio more writerly. Think about how the sentences flow one after the other. Read it out loud to see how it sounds—it’ll give you a good idea if it reads well.

If it’s too hard to even start, ask someone else to help you write it. Pick someone with writing experience. Give them the bullet point notes and your music for reference. Ask for an honest draft—and compensate when necessary!

3. Edit and Style

Structure is key.

Split up your text into 2-3 easy to read paragraphs.

The first paragraph should be the most important one—journalists might copy-paste only that part when writing about you. It should give a good picture of who you are as an artist, what kind of music you play and your top achievements (shows, releases, collaborations).

Go more in depth in the second paragraph. Give some background. But no need to go too far back either… “Sandra became a music lover at age 9 when she first heard the Beatles…” That’s unnecessary!

The last paragraph should be about what you’re currently working on.

Once you have that, rewrite three versions of your music bio:

• The ‘Tweet’ version (one-liner)
• The short one paragraph version (150-200 words)
• The longer 3 paragraph version (max 300-400 words)

Do it With Style

Even if you aren’t an international touring artist, find the thing that makes you special and focus on that.

Don’t over-embellish or distort the truth. Even if you aren’t an international touring artist, find the thing that makes you special and focus on that. You don’t need to have a won Grammy to write an interesting bio.

Don’t name drop too much. You’ve opened or played with famous artists? Name 1-2, those that matter the most and best match your stylistic affinities. Even better: describe your musical aesthetic without falling back on other artists.

Hot Tip : Train yourself to become specific at describing music and sound by reading a lot of good music journalism—for example The Quietus , The Wire or the book How to Write About Music . Also read record descriptions on online stores like Beatport , Hardwax , Bleep or Boomkat . You’re a music fan anyways, so it’ll be fun!

Get a few writer friends to thoroughly  spellcheck and edit your bio. The spellcheck again!

If it makes sense for the kind of music and scenes you’re involved in, add some humour. If it doesn’t fit the music, abstain yourself.

Consider translating your bio into 1-2 other languages by natives or professional translators. A background in music will help—music genres have a lot of quirks that not all translators will get. Choose wisely!

Think of what audience and countries your music is reaching. When you release with LANDR , check your dashboard to see where your music is streaming the most. Translate your bio into the languages of the top 3 countries.

Keep it Fresh

Don’t forget to update your music bio often—take a pass at it every month or so. Edit it based on new accomplishments, releases, shows and projects.

4. Tips From People Who Read Hundreds of Artist Bios

We asked some industry professionals to give us their best tips for writing music bios. Take notes!

PATTI SCHMIDT — festival curator and radio personality

Patti Schmidt is a curator for the world-renowned MUTEK festival . She writes most of the bios on their website. She also has over two decades of experience writing for radio—everything from short blurbs to 10-page artist profiles.

Patti’s DOs

When I’m reading artist bios, I’m always looking for a conceptualization of the artist . I like a little bit of background: Where did you start? What was the revelatory entry point into creating or producing?

Think about your audience—who is the bio for? Make several versions for several audiences: for the public on your social media, for festival submissions, for the press.

Think about your audience—who is the bio for? Make several versions for several audiences.

Think about the experience you offer as an artist. The bio should make people excited to come see your shows.

I’m always trying to get people interested in something they don’t know they might like. So I’m searching for that nugget, that thing that conveys what is touching or interesting about an artist. I want people to come see it.

Describe your aesthetic with attention to precision and what is unique about you.

When it comes to music, you’re trying to create entry points—especially if you’re an experimental artist. This is a big point of debate, because some artists think that their art should stand on its own. But that doesn’t help me! My business has always been to convey. It’s not about dumbing it down, but creating access points .

Patti’s DON’Ts

Avoid a long list of releases and reviews. The music bio should not seem like a series of record reviews or lists. Mentioning recorded work can be helpful in understanding an artist, but it’s just one component to use judiciously.

Stay away from comparisons to other artists—treat yourself as a unique artist.

Avoid passive sentences . Use the active voice —where the subject of your sentence performs the verb. For example:

• Passive voice : Boundaries get pushed by Aurora Halal’s music, which mesmerizes in a bold quest for both experimentation and intimacy.
• Active voice : Aurora Halal’s music pushes boundaries and mesmerizes in a bold quest for both experimentation and intimacy.

Avoid boilerplate genre identifications. ‘Electronic’ is much too broad. Even ‘techno’ could use more specifics. Is it hypnotic, dreamy, dark or inspired by 90s Detroit?

CHRISTINE KAKAIRE — music journalist and editor

Christine Kakaire is a music journalist, editor, copywriter, curator and radio host. She writes for all the biggest names in music journalism—Pitchfork, Resident Advisor, Red Bull Music Academy, Boiler Room, Ableton, Google Play, Berlin Community Radio and Electronic Beats.

Christine’s DOs

Shorter is better. If you’ve been making music for multiple decades then take up more space—if not, 300 words is more than sufficient.

Cover your top 4-5 achievements you are the proudest of.

Include descriptions of your music and sound in your own words. This makes your bio more personal.

If someone is reading your bio in full, it’s because they already have an interest in you—let the music do the selling for you.

This is a functional piece of text geared towards media, bookers and promoters. Journalists will most likely just cut and paste the first couple of paragraphs… so front load the first paragraph with a brief overview of your most recent stuff and talk about historical stuff later.

If you’re writing it yourself, get another person to check it before you publish.

If your music bio is being written in a language that isn’t your native tongue, ask a native speaker to check the grammar.

Always: SPELL CHECK!

Christine’s DON’Ts

If you’ve been active as an artist for a while, no need to include every single gig, remix, track, release, review from your entire career. A music bio should be a highlight reel, not a longhand version of your Discogs profile.

Of course, your bio should be positive, but avoid filling it with over-the-top adjectives. Substance always beats style. If you’re not sure, err on the side of toning it down.

A music bio should be a highlight reel, not a longhand version of your Discogs profile.

Don’t open with “John’s love of music started when he heard X band on the radio for the first time…” 99% of bios have a similar opening sentence.

Avoid long laundry lists of names, venues, record labels or festivals within sentences. Most readers will lose interest by the 4th or 5th name, so only include the most relevant ones.

Never skip the spell check. Check and double check that all proper nouns (names of people, record labels, magazines etc.) are spelled and formatted correctly.

CHRISTOPHER CARGNELLO — composer and songwriter

Christopher Cargnello is a composer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He’s toured the world, written music for TV and topped the Quebec charts with his band Skinny Bros. He’s also been hired to write multiple bios for other artists.

Christopher’s DOs

Focus on career achievements more than telling your backstory.

Know (and use) correct lingo. It looks bad when a musician gets these terms wrong in their bio. It also looks awkward when an up-and-coming artist writes that they “performed with” a really big act when in fact they just performed at the same festival–maybe even on the same stage, but much earlier in the day.

Here are some terminology tips:

• “ Shared the stage with ” means you were an opening act. Usually in a one-off situation (as opposed to touring with someone as their opening act).
• “ Performed with ” means you were on stage with that artist while they performed, usually in their band, or as a featured performer during their show.
• “ Compose ” usually means you wrote the instrumental portion of a song.
• “ Write ” usually means that you wrote the lyrics.
• If you’re speaking about hip hop and electronic music, “ produce ” means you were essentially the “beat-maker”—the person who created the instrumental track. But if you’re speaking about country, folk, rock, or other kinds of more organic music, “produce” means you were the record producer —more of a creative manager during a recording session.
• Nowadays the term “ composer ” generally refers to someone who writes music for TV and film.
• The term “ songwriter ” generally refers to someone who writes pop songs that contain lyrics and instrumental accompaniment.

Be ready to edit the shit out of your bio. Especially if you have lots of achievements. Shorten or remove some facts to make space for others.

When the list gets too long—especially with touring locations—lump them together in geographic regions. If you had gigs in the United States, Guadeloupe, Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand… just say that you “toured across the United States, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia.”

Mention something that you are currently doing! Even if you don’t have much going on at the moment, it’s better to say “Max is currently working on new, original material” than to say nothing at all.

Christopher’s DON’Ts

Don’t write bios that are too long. If it’s for an award ceremony or a festival website, give them 1-2 paragraphs, less than 200 words. If it’s for industry people, get everything into 3-4 paragraphs—under 400 words.

You want your music bio to be compelling. Rely on interesting and impressive facts, not clever wording, to make up the bulk of your bio.

A small number of achievements written in a factual, confident manner reads way better than a bloated list of hyperboles.

Don’t try to stretch an inch into a mile and make it sound like you’ve toured the world and recorded with every important person over the past decade. A small number of achievements written in a factual, confident manner reads way better than a bloated list of hyperboles.

Don’t write every single festival you’ve played at. It’s better to only mention a few. For example: “Camille is a true veteran of the Canadian festival circuit, having performed at dozens from coast to coast, including Halifax Jazz Fest, Francofolies in Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver Folk Fests.”

5. Where to Put Your Music Bio

Now that you have a killer bio it’s time to make sure it hits home.

Here are the places you should put it:

• Your artist website and/or electronic press kit (EPK)
• Your social media profiles (Facebook, Resident Advisor, Instagram, etc.)
• Your streaming profiles ( SoundCloud , Mixcloud , Bandcamp , YouTube , Spotify *, Apple Music *, etc.)

*You may need to request access or get verified to edit these.

Don’t forget to make sure you keep it updated!

6. Get Inspired

If you’re still having trouble, read some good music bios to get inspired.

Pay close attention to what’s included in each bio and how it’s written (style, grammar, etc.). Does it make you want to listen to an artist’s music? Does the tone fit the artist’s image and music? That’s what you should aim for.

Here are some places to look for great music bios:

• MUTEK festival
• Primavera Sound
• Lapsus Festival
• True Panther

Your Bio is Key

Writing a drum-tight music bio is the key component of a good music promotion campaign.

Your bio is the tool that will get journalists, festival-goers and future fans intrigued by you. It’s the way you represent your image and music to the world before they even press play.

Words have power—the power to get more people to come see your show and listen to your music.

Remember to make your music bio unique, keep it short and spell check!

Thanks to Patti Schmidt, Christine Kakaire , Christopher Cargnello ,  Sarah Lamb , Dave Vega , , Ruth Grader , Lowebrau , Grey People , Bruno Belluomini and Volvox for their precious contribution to this article.

Leticia is a lover of acid basslines and hypnotic techno. She DJs and produces under the name softcoresoft. Writer at LANDR.

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Musician CV example

Dream of landing a great role in the music industry? The first step to success if a killer CV.

A properly formatted, well-written and tailored CV will seriously increase your chances of landing an interview.

But if you’re not sure where to start, this guide will steer you in the right direction.

It contains everything you need to put forward a job-winning application, including a tried-and-tested example musician CV.

Here’s what I’ll cover in the guide:

Guide contents

• Music CV example
• Structuring and formatting your CV
• Writing your CV profile
• Detailing work experience
• Your education
• Skills required for your music CV

CV templates 

The example CV above should give you a could idea of how to layout your CV for maximum impact.

This candidate puts forward their key skills and experience in a punchy profile and core skills list, allowing the reader to see their potential from the start.

The clearly-formatted headings also mean it’s easy for recruiters to scan through the document and pinpoint the information they’re seeking.

Music CV structure & format

With recruiters potentially reading hundreds of CVs per role, they don’t have long to review each application.

That’s why, above anything, your music CV should be well-presented, clear and concise.

By using my simple structure and format tricks, you can ensure your CV is easy to read and has a professional appearance.

Formatting Tips

• Length:  The unwritten rule of CV length is 2 sides of A4 or less. This forces you to focus on the most relevant information and ensures your CV doesn’t become tedious.
• Readability:  Your overarching aim should be to make your CV as easy to read as possible. So, break up any large blocks of texts into smaller paragraphs and, where possible, format information into short, sharp bullet points. Format your CV section headings so that they clearly stand out.
• Design:  You might be a creative genius, but be careful with your CV design. Generally, a simple design with a muted colour palette and clear font is best. However, if you do want to add some personality to the design, remember to prioritise readability over style.
• Things to avoid:  Generally, images and profile photos aren’t necessary. However, do double-check whether the job advertisement specifically asks you to include a profile photo, as they’re more common in the performance and entertainment sector.

Structuring your CV

Break your key information up into the following CV sections:

• Contact details – These should always sit at the very top of your CV.
• Profile – A short introductory paragraph that summarises your music experience and why you’re a great fit for the role.
• Work experience / Career history – Work backwards through your most relevant roles and/or contracts.
• Performances – If applicable, add a short and snappy list of your key performances.
• Education –  Highlight your academic background, focusing on your industry-specific qualifications.
• Interest and hobbies – An optional section, which you can use to demonstrate your commitment to the music industry.

Next, we’ll go through each CV section in greater detail, so you understand exactly what you need to include :

CV Contact Details

Kick-off your CV by listing your contact details.

These only need to be basic at this stage – there’s no point wasting space with excessive detail.

Here’s what you should include:

• Phone number
• Email address
• Location  – Just list your town or city, for example, ‘London’ or ‘Manchester’ .
• If you have one, add a link to your music portfolio or website.

Music CV Profile

At the very top of your CV, you should write a personal profile (or personal statement for junior or graduate applicants).

This should be a well-rounded summary of your music skills, experience and achievements to date.

Recruiters normally read this first, so your aim should be to hook their attention and entice them into the rest of your CV.

Tips to consider when creating your profile:

• Tailor it to the job:  If your profile doesn’t contain the information that recruiters are looking for, they might chuck your CV in the bin before reading the rest. So, make sure it contains highly relevant information and paints you as the perfect fit for the job requirements.
• It should be short and snappy:  A paragraph length of between 5-10 lines is perfect for experienced candidates, while junior and graduate candidates can go up to 15 lines. This keeps the tone punchy and exciting; enticing recruiters to continue reading and find out more about you.
• Avoid clichés:  It might be tempted to describe yourself as a  “talented and passionate musician who always gives 110%”,  but generic phrases like this are best avoided. Recruiters have no reason to believe your claims, so it’s more effective to put forward hard facts, accomplishments and achievements instead.
• Avoid objectives: If you’re an experienced applicant, don’t add your objectives or motives to your profile – save them for your cover letter . However, graduates and junior candidates should briefly touch on the type of roles they’re seeking and why.

Quick tip: Spelling and grammar mistakes could make your CV look unprofessional. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder , to check it over for errors.

What to include in your music CV profile?

• Specialism – Whether you play an instrument, are a music producer, a singer, a songwriter or DJ, your specialism should immediately be made clear.
• Level of experience  – Are you a recent graduate? 2 years of experience? 10+ years of experience? No matter what type of music career you’re looking for, recruiters need to know your experience level.
• Relevant experience/projects/contracts  – Summarise your relevant experience so far – this might be employed roles, contracts, university placements, personal projects and performances.
• Music qualifications – Highlight your highest and most relevant qualifications, whether that’s a music degree , A-Level and/or specific instrument grades.
• Music skills  – Showcase your relevant music skills, tailoring them to the job requirements if possible. For example, music theory, production, music history, songwriting, symphony experience…
• Performances and/or achievements   – If applicable, make sure to mention a couple of your stand out musical performances. You should also list your key accomplishments in your career to date, such as notable venues you performed at, exemplary feedback you achieved, impressive marks you received during a music exam, leading musicians you’ve worked with or notable artists/musicians you’ve worked alongside. Bear in mind that these will inevitably vary depending on your specific profession, but anything that makes you stand out is worth including.

Core skills section

Next, prove your suitability for the role by listing your core music skills and specialisms.

Format these into 2-3 columns of bullet points for maximum impact.

Your list should be tailored to the role, highlighting the skills, techniques, software and disciplines mentioned in the job advertisement.

Work experience/Career history

Next up is your work experience section, which some music professionals might find difficult.

Depending on the nature of your job, you might have what’s referred to as a ‘mosaic career’ – ie, numerous short-term roles and contracts.

But busy recruiter or casting directors don’t want to read about every contract you’ve ever had, so you need to be selective.

What’s the solution? Try to prioritise space and go into the most detail for your biggest and most relevant jobs/contracts.

If you run out of space, just list the name of the show or company you worked on/for, along with the dates, for your oldest or most irrelevant roles.

For musicians/performers, another option is to highlight longer contracts in a work experience section, but then include a  ‘Performances’   section underneath, where you provide a snappy list of the key shows you’ve been part of.

Ultimately, no matter what your career path looks like, it’s best to focus on relevancy to the target role.

Quick tip:  If you write or compose music, add an ‘Original Compositions ‘ section and cite your stand out pieces or albums.

Structuring your roles

If you want to keep recruiter’s attention hooked, your work experience needs to be snappy and easy to digest.

My 3-step role structure, as outlined below, will allow them to scan through your career history without missing on critical information:

Start with a well-rounded overview of the company you worked for, what the role or contract entailed and who you worked alongside.

“Lead violinist in the string section of a major orchestra, performing for audiences ranging from 100-8,000.”

Key responsibilities

Share a punchy list of your key duties, using short bullet points for ease of reading.

• Regularly performed for large audiences; with an average of 5,000.
• Lead a team of 10 violinists to meet high performance standards and ensure a cohesive sound.
• Tutored junior violinists to play the advanced parts of assigned pieces.

Key achievements

To impress recruiters even further, create a list of your key achievements within the role.

This might be results, feedback, awards or ratings, or anything else that added value to the employer, a client or the audience.

If you can, quantify your examples using hard facts and figures.

• Headhunted to contribute to several BBC TV soundtracks.
• Started and managed a free club for gifted young violinists.
• Organised a charity concert and fundraised over £20,000 in ticket sales.

After your work experience, use the education section to display your qualifications.

Start with your sector-specific music qualifications, such as your degree, a music BTEC , music A-Level, or specific instrument theory and practical grades.

You should share the institution or governing body, your grades and the dates of study.

Then, give a brief overview of your other qualifications, especially if they’re in some way relevant to the role.

Quick tip:  Junior and graduate candidates should add more detail to this section. If there were any aspects of a course – such as an assignment, placement or project – that are particularly relevant to the role you’re applying for, discuss them in further detail.

Interests and hobbies

This is an optional section, but it can be particularly useful in the music industry.

Musicians or other professionals in the music industry need to be passionate about the sector. Therefore, any hobby , side project or interest that showcases your commitment to music, or has helped you gain relevant skills, should be discussed.

For example, perhaps you’re part of a performing arts or music club, are learning a new instrument, produce music in your spare time or write songs.

Essential skills for your music CV

Careers in the music industry are varied, and the skillset need for a musician, sound engineer and music teacher will vary. Therefore, it’s essential to tailor your CV skills to your target role.

However, some common music skills include:

Instruments –  It comes as no surprise that the ability to play an instrument is often vital, whether that’s piano, guitar, violin, cello, bass…

Music theory – The ability to read and write music , as well as understanding of the practises, methods, concepts and terms used in creating and performing.

Performance  – Dedication to practise to achieve performance standards, as well as the confidence to perform in front of audiences.

Technical skills – Sound engineers and music producers will require a wide range of technical skills, such as sound design, editing and ghost production.

Teaching – Teaching clients or fellow musicians various elements of general musicianship, such as theory and instrumental technique.

Communication – Whether it’s working with organisations, venues, bandmates or artists, most music professions require solid communication and interpersonal skills.

Writing your music CV

If music is your dream career path, a flawless CV is an essential stepping stone to landing the best roles and contracts.

If you focus on tailoring your skills and experience to the job requirements and ensure your CV has a professional appearance, it’s sure to get attention.

Good luck with your job search.

Musician Bio Templates: How To Write & Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

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The MakeMusic Blog

Tips and news for musicians, educators, and composers, pro tips for creating assignments in makemusic cloud.

Music Educators are busy people! When you use MakeMusic Cloud (SmartMusic) with your students, you are empowering them to use high-quality resources, self-assess, and self-correct with the assistance of our powerful suite of tools. Students can receive differentiated instruction when they practice with our Assessment and Practice tools, and you are still free to give as much or little feedback as you’d like! Let’s explore some impactful ways to nurture your young musicians with assignments in MakeMusic Cloud.

Traditional Assignments

Start your assignment creation process from a piece in the Music Catalog or My Library. Remember you can create assignments from anything in the Music Catalog, shared items created in Compose, uploaded and shared items from other notation software, or even Sight Reading Builder custom exercises or templates. Use the Assign button to get started. View step-by-step instructions on creating assignments here. 

Pro Tip #1 (possibly THE most important tip!): Add clear directions for your students in the appropriate text box. Consider rewarding your students for reading your instructions by including bonus words that they must include in the comment box when they submit their assignment. This will help your students develop the habit of reading instructions.  Save time by keeping a document of directions that you can copy/paste from and make minor changes to as you create new assignments! 

Pro Tip #2: The Assessment tolerance defaults to “Level 1” – keep it there until you really see a need to challenge your students further! 

Pro Tip #3: You can turn any assignment into a sight reading assignment in the Additional Features section. Activate the si ght reading toggle and easily specify a study time for your students.

Pro Tip #4: When setting the tempo parameters, consider setting the tempo to “At Least” ___ and encouraging your students to choose a tempo where they can get their best score or are most proud of their performance.

When you choose how an assignment should be graded, you may use the MakeMusic Cloud assessment score or create your own rubric. If you select to Submit Grade Automatically , the MakeMusic Cloud assessment score alone will provide the final score. While students will always be able to see an assessment score after a recording, teachers can add other criteria that make the most sense for the assignment with a rubric. 

Pro Tip #5: Add criteria that you can use on multiple assignments because these custom items will be available to you in future assignments that you create! Consider making use of criteria such as “Musicality”, “Evidence of Practice”, or even “Reflection in Comments” to use as additional pieces of the final score that are teacher assessed. 

Save Time with Units

All of the assignments that you create are automatically turned into templates . You can access these templates from the Home page ( Recent Assignment Templates) or by clicking on Assignments in the navigation menu. 

Units are a great way to assign multiple assignments all at once! Consider using units for things that you might use year after year or create them when planning your assignments for the grading period. 

Pro Tip #6 : Add assignments to your Unit in “backwards order” — select the LAST assignment you want to appear in the list first and end with the FIRST assignment so that they will appear in sequential order to your students.

Create Your Personal Best Workflow

You will get the most out of the MakeMusic Cloud tools when you learn about how they work, and then create processes for yourself and your students that make sense in your situation. A traditional graded assignment may not always be the best option alongside your musical goals. Here are some educator-tested ways to use our tools in creative ways: 

Toggle “Show Assessment” On and Off 

Show students that they can turn off the visual of the red, yellow, and green notes appearing when they are practicing. While instant assessment is so helpful for some, it can be anxiety inducing for others, especially when trying to perform something. To use this toggle, click on Assessment at the top of the Practice screen and you’ll see the option to adjust this on and off. 

Pro Tip #7: If Show Assessment is turned off, our tool will still assess, it just won’t show the colored feedback until the toggle is changed back to the on position. 

Delete, Save, or Submit any Take

After a take is recorded in MakeMusic Cloud there are three options next to the dropdown list of takes from the current practice session. Delete removes the take from the list. Save downloads the take as a .wav file (that can be attached to an email, LMS assignment, etc.) Submit turns the assignment in to the teacher. 

Pro Tip #8: The Save option offers you some flexibility in how to accept student work and is even a backup plan that students can rely upon if they have trouble with a submission. 

Practice Analysis Offers Valuable Insights 

Pro Tip #9: Consider assigning grades (or portions of grades) based on practice time. You can easily and quickly see how long students spend recording takes, how many times they open material, and what they are exploring in Class Analytics . The Analytics you’ll find in MakeMusic Cloud are based on playing time and recording time that we can track. Remember that students will likely spend some time looking at the music, playing just a few measures, checking fingerings, or decoding rhythms outside of the tracked plays and records. When a student shows “10 minutes” of playing and recording time, they likely spent 20-30 minutes total really practicing that music! 

Gain practice insights for each of your classes by visiting Class Analytics. Find it in the main menu on the left side of the screen under Classroom and Teach.

You can also access it from your Home screen by clicking on the Practice item at the bottom right of any class card. 

Students can see their own personal practice analysis in the left side main menu under Classroom and then Learn.

Pro Tip #10: Submit The Take You’re Most Proud Of. Consider offering assignments on occasion that ask students to submit the take that they are “most proud of”. Don’t underestimate the power of asking students to open their ears and really take a few minutes to self analyze 

No two teachers use MakeMusic Cloud tools the same way. We are always working on improving functionality and expanding options for creative teachers like you so that you can continue to do your best for your students! Join the conversation and connect with other MakeMusic Cloud educators in our Facebook group,  Teaching with MakeMusic Cloud , and let us know YOUR Pro Tips! 

The New Music Assignment Book

by Lauren Lewandowski | Jul 30, 2020 | Teaching/Practice Tips

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means I make a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if you purchase something from an affiliate link.

As a new school year approaches and the pandemic continues, I know many students are in need of something to lift their spirits right now! I created this new Music Assignment Book to include practice goals for students, reference sheets, and even spaces to highlight positive elements from music lessons. Students need this right now!

The Music Assignment Book Includes:

1. a beautiful, colorful cover to brighten anyone’s mood.

2. Fifty-two weeks of assignment pages with space to make a practice goal for the week

3. a practice log is included with each weekly assignment..

Teachers and set the weekly practice goal as a particular number of days to practice, or set the goal as a total number of minutes for the student to practice during the week.    Use the empty box at the end of the weekly schedule to award students. Younger students may enjoy receiving a sticker if their weekly goal is met. Other ideas include giving students a letter grade or stars based on how their weekly goal was met. For example, the teacher can tell the student they receive 3 stars if the goal was met, 1-2 stars if the goal was partially met, or 0 stars if there was no practice. If teaching online lessons, students may write down their own assignment and discuss their practice with teachers the following week. Students can then grade their own practice!

4. An appendix with:

• Common musical terms and tempo markings (Great reference for online lessons)
• Rhythm charts with note and rest values for simple and complex meter
• Students can record composers they learn within the four musical time periods
• Space to notate favorite pieces and special achievements (Students really need to highlight anything positive right now!)
• Blank staff paper
• Blank paper for notes

Buy the Music Assignment Book

Lauren teaches piano to students of all ages in New Orleans, LA. Teaching is her passion. She enjoys creating resources for her students and is the author of Ready for Theory®.

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8 billionaires who have the best style

• Some of the richest people in the world are fashionable on and off red carpets.
• In fact, fashion is a key to success for billionaires like Kim Kardashian and Ralph Lauren.
• Other wealthy names, including Julia Koch and LeBron James, also have standout styles.

Billionaires aren't just extremely wealthy. In many cases, they're also pretty fashionable.

Look no further than Kim Kardashian and Ralph Lauren. Style is the basis of their careers, one of their biggest passions, and ultimately, a key to their financial successes.

But there are also people like Julia Koch and LeBron James. Fashion doesn't sit at the core of their businesses, but both are still some of the most fashionable billionaires out there.

Here's a look at the fashion worn by the above stars and other stylish billionaires like them.

Laurene Powell Jobs effortlessly balances chic and fashion-forward styles.

Jobs — a businesswoman with a $13 billion fortune, according to Forbes — regularly attends glamorous galas in black-tie ensembles and economic summits in fashionable workwear.

But she's also made her mark on events like Paris Fashion Week. While attending in 2022, she paired a pleated skirt with platform boots, a button-up shirt, and a letterman jacket.

Her style isn't far off from that of her daughter. Eve Jobs , 25, has also attended fashion weeks worldwide and is now the face of an Enfants Riches Déprimés campaign .

Rihanna is as much of a fashion icon as she is a music superstar.

Rihanna's fashion has evolved greatly over the years. She started her career in elevated beachwear and youthful looks. But now, she regularly wears statement gowns and designer ensembles.

Her fashion journey has also matched her massive career moves. In recent years, Rihanna has transitioned from a pop musician with radio hits to a beauty and fashion mogul with a net worth of $1.4 billion .

Her lingerie brand Savage X Fenty alone was estimated to be valued at $3 billion in 2022.

Julia Koch knows how to have fun with clothes.

Julia Koch is a socialite, the widow of businessman David Koch, and one of the richest women in the world. According to Forbes , Julia Koch and her family are worth an estimated $64.3 billion.

She's also had many standout fashion moments at public events over the years. Koch showed the fun side of her style at an NYU Langone Health location opening in July 2021, wearing a vibrant yellow dress with hot-pink accessories.

More recently, she attended a November 2023 book-release party in a chic, black-and-green dress with black tights and fashion-forward flats from The Row .

Jay-Z always looks sharp, from red-carpet events to the Super Bowl.

Jay-Z boasts a net worth of about $2.5 billion thanks to his iconic music career and various business ventures. He's often described as "hip-hop's first billionaire."

But when you see him attending awards shows and other major events, you might be more impressed by his standout style.

This year, some of his best looks have included the black-and-white ensemble he wore at "The Book of Clarence" movie premiere and the custom bomber jacket he sported at the Super Bowl .

He's also worn a variety of street-style looks — he seems to prefer brands like Puma and Nike — and a black beanie , which has become his signature style in recent months.

Sergey Brin is making a name for himself on red carpets.

According to Forbes , Brin, who helped create Google , is estimated to be worth around $121 billion.

And since stepping down as president of Alphabet , Google's parent company, in December 2019, he's become more stylish and present at Hollywood events.

Most recently, he wore a casual yet stylish outfit at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party: a white Alo T-shirt, Y-3 sneakers, dress pants, and a black blazer with a subtle checkered print.

He's worn similar looks at galas, awards ceremonies, and parties.

Kim Kardashian is one of the most fashionable billionaires on the planet.

Forbes said in January that Kardashian is estimated to be worth $1.7 billion . And she certainly dresses like it.

Her wardrobe regularly includes high-end designer brands like Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana, and Mugler, and her diamonds often come from jewelers like Lorraine Schwartz.

But Kardashian is also the creator of SKIMS, a clothing brand that offers shapewear, pajamas, undergarments, and a variety of other garments. SKIMS has also been valued at $4 billion , proving that Kardashian's style savvy goes beyond her personal wardrobe and extends into her business skills.

LeBron James has a standout style on and off the court.

You likely know James as a legendary NBA star. But he's also a billionaire thanks to massive basketball contracts and lucrative endorsement deals.

But when he's not competing or working, the athlete can be seen sporting classic styles.

He often wears simple yet elevated looks on red carpets, typically comprised of jeans, fitted jackets, and sunglasses. But to arrive at his games, he's been known to sport casual looks from designers like Louis Vuitton and brands including Nike , with which he signed a lifetime deal in 2015.

He also knows how to accessorize, regularly sporting coveted watches from Rolex and Richard Mille and brooches made from diamonds and gold.

Ralph Lauren is a fashion designer, billionaire, and style icon.

It's no surprise that Lauren makes a list of fashionable billionaires. Not only is he estimated to be worth $9.2 billion, according to Forbes , but he's also the creative mind behind his namesake fashion brand.

While he occasionally attends public events, like ones at the White House , it's usually at his yearly runway shows that Lauren's personal fashion sense goes on display. Sometimes, he wears classic tuxedos and other times, he sticks with cargo pants and statement belts.

But no matter the outfit or occasion, one thing is certain: he'll wear a signature pair of sneakers (usually New Balance) to go with it.

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