Writing Your Artist Bio

Three Bios You Need

• Short (50 words): For social media bios, festival lineups, Spotify. One sentence describes your sound; one sentence states a credential or hook.
• Medium (150 words): For press releases, booking inquiries, playlist submissions. Story + sound + achievement. Enough detail to intrigue, not enough to overwhelm.
• Long (400 words): For your website, press kit, artist statements. Full narrative. Where you come from, what influences you, where you're headed.

Each is a different tool. Don't shrink the long bio into the short one. Write them independently.

What to Include

Start with a hook: something that makes the reader lean in. "A producer obsessed with silence" beats "Makes electronic music."

Then provide:

• Credentials: Albums, awards, notable placements, collaborators. Concrete proof you matter.
• Sound description: Use metaphor and emotion, not jargon. "Woozy ambient" works better than "Post-minimalist instrumental exploration."
• Story: Why you make this music. Personal truth resonates.
• Call to action: "Out now on all platforms." "Book here." "Listen to X."

Third Person vs First Person

Most industry bios use third person. It feels more professional and distanced. But if your brand is intimate and personal, first person can work—just commit to it across all platforms.

Mix them inconsistently and you look unprofessional. Choose one and stick with it.

Common Mistakes

• Overstating achievements: "One of the most innovative artists of our generation" is unprovable and makes readers skeptical. Let your work speak.
• Being vague: "Creates unique sounds" tells nothing. "Layered synth drones with field recordings of urban decay" tells everything.
• Writing for yourself, not your reader: Your festival booker doesn't care how you feel about your music. They care whether you'll draw an audience and represent the festival well.
• Ignoring formatting: Long paragraphs are walls. Break them into short chunks. People skim bios.
• Forgetting the call to action: Always tell people what to do next. Listen. Follow. Book. Apply.

Keep your bio updated quarterly. New releases, tours, and changes in your sound warrant revisions. A stale bio signals an inactive artist.