Before you write your artist bio, you have to think about who you’re writing it for. Who will be visiting your website to learn more about you? And why?

There are two main groups who may be reading your artist bio: the press and your loyal fans. The press needs to see your about page to get context and story for write-ups about you. And fans read your bio to learn more about your personal and musical story.

You can write one artist bio for the press and include that in your EPK, and you can write a different, public-facing artist bio that would be more interesting to your fans. Alternatively, you can write a bio that serves both groups. If you can write a story-driven bio, you can write an about page that everyone can enjoy.

We’ll go through the steps of writing an artist bio below. But for now, here’s what should be in your artist bio:

• An interesting introduction that includes your name and music identity (e.g., singer-songwriter, guitarist, electronic producer, etc.)
• Your story/journey that shows how you became who you are today
• Musical style (past, present, and future)
• Career milestones, like notable performances, awards, chart successes, collaborations with well-known artists, or any other relevant accomplishments
• Unique things that set you apart from other artists
• Discography, touring history, and notable performances
• Quotes from press (if you don’t have press yet, quote fan comments from social media)
• Upcoming projects
• Social media links and how to contact you or your management team

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when writing your artist bio…

Most indie musicians are writing their own bios, or maybe they ask someone they know personally. So hyperbolic praise is cringey. Stick to the facts.

Lists are for conveying information. And an artist bio should be more like a story than a textbook. Avoid lists.

Be creative in your writing, yes. But avoid overly poetic language because you can verge on being too vague and losing the reader.

Use a tool like Grammarly to make sure you’re not making easily avoidable mistakes.

It can be good to have a long bio, but make sure you also have a short- and medium-length bio. You can link all three on your website. Or you can use the short or medium bio as the public-facing one, then include the long one in your Electronic Press Kit (EPK).

Now that we’ve covered what not to do in your artist bio, let’s talk about what you should do. Here are a handful of general guidelines and tips when it comes to writing your artist bio (artist bio example template in the next section)…

• Always write your bio in the third person
• If you’re in a band, make sure you mention each member and their roles
• Always mention what you’re currently working on or upcoming projects
• Include a picture of you (or several) with your artist bio
• Write a short (2-3 sentences), medium (~150 words), and long (~300+ words) bio

Need an outline? Below is an artist bio example template. Adjust and rearrange this to your liking, but remember to write this in story form as best as you can.

Write a captivating opening sentence or two that grabs the reader’s attention and introduces you and your musical identity. Hint at your story. Hook the reader.

Briefly provide some of your background story, something that makes a positive and accurate first impression. Keep it concise and interesting.

Summarize your musical style and sound, mentioning a few musical influences if you’d like.

Weave into the story of your bio the most notable milestones and accomplishments in your career.

Mention current and upcoming projects, recent releases, tours, or any exciting developments in your career.

Include positive quotes or testimonials from reviewers, industry professionals, or collaborators that highlight the artist’s talent and impact.

Embed a contact form or list contact details for bookings or inquiries, along with links to your social media profiles and streaming platforms.

Conclude the bio with a strong closing statement that reinforces your identity and even harkens to the introduction.

Here are some real-life artist bio examples. Each artist bio example has different strengths, so you can try to incorporate elements of each into your about page.

This one from Marc Scibilia is a good example of press-friendly bio…

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, chart-topping singer/songwriter Marc Scibilia’s been on a steady rise ever since the 2012 release of his breakout single, “How Bad We Need Each Other.” In the last several years alone, he’s racked up more than 125 million streams across platforms; scored the most Shazamed moment of the 2015 Super Bowl with his stripped-down take on “This Land Is Your Land”; seen his music featured in a slew of film and television soundtracks, including a recent Water.org PSA narrated by Matt Damon; written for artists as diverse as superstar DJ Robin Schulz (the pair’s “Unforgettable” is a certified Gold, #1 single, currently boasting more than 75 million streams on Spotify alone), singer/songwriters Ben Rector, Kid G, Seal, Lennon Stella and rappers Jim Jones, Rick Ross, and Fabolous; garnered praise from the likes of pop star Demi Lovato and Matchbox 20’s Rob Thomas; and toured with James Bay, Zac Brown Band, Butch Walker, and Nick Jonas, among others.

Scibilia was forced to put his burgeoning career on hold for the better part of 2019, though, when he welcomed his first child into the world while simultaneously caring for his ailing father, who would tragically pass away from brain cancer shortly thereafter. He chronicles the profound, emotional journey on his riveting new album, ‘Seed Of Joy,’ which he recorded alone in his basement studio in Nashville in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. While you might expect the finished product to be a dark and somber affair, ‘Seed Of Joy’ is, true to its name, just the opposite, fueled by soulful vocals and soaring melodies and overflowing with rich, anthemic exuberance at nearly every turn.

Calling to mind everything from Paul Simon and Cat Stevens to Bleachers and Vampire Weekend, the result is a powerful slice of self-reflection that balances nostalgia and optimism in equal measure, a thoughtful, defiantly optimistic work that insists on finding silver linings, even in the face of gut-wrenching loss.

In April 2020, Samsung picked up the original 2009 demo of “How Bad We Need Each Other” for their Stay Apart, Stay Together campaign. The vitality of the initial online release led to a worldwide campaign using Marc’s song.

Upon welcoming his second child in 2021 Marc began releasing new singles and music videos and this year completed work on his third full-length album, Mindy, out now.

Rayland Baxter’s is more story-driven. Here’s the first paragraph…

For the making of his fourth album If I Were a Butterfly, Rayland Baxter holed up for over a year at a former rubber-band factory turned studio in the Kentucky countryside—a seemingly humble environment that proved to be something of a wonderland. “I spent that year living in a barn with the squirrels and the birds, on my own most of the time, and I discovered so much about music and how to create it,” says the Tennessee-bred singer/songwriter. “Instead of going into a studio with a producer for two weeks, I just waited for the record to build itself. I’d get up and go outside, see a butterfly and connect that with some impulsive thought I’d had three months ago, and suddenly a song I’d been working on would make sense. That’s how the whole album came to be.”

Singer-songwriter Olive Klug’s about page is split into a few sections and then lists their social media links and number of followers at the bottom.

Bio:
A key player in the new wave of contemporary folk singers, Olive Klug is an independent singer/songwriter with a rare vocal gift. Self-styled after genre icons like Joni Mitchell and Brandi Carlile, Olive is known for their beautiful tone and vividly honest storytelling. Their sound is reminiscent of the Golden Age of American Folk Music, but with a uniquely modern lyrical sensibility.

New Music:
After releasing several singles over the course of 2022, Olive is excited to release their debut full-length album on August 11, 2023. “Don’t You Dare Make me Jaded” details their coming-of-age story in a world that insists on disillusionment. It’s about the perseverance of hope, celebration of joy, maintenance of childlike wonder, and acceptance of life’s nuanced changes.

Performance History:
Most Recently, Olive toured as direct support for indie pop band Daisy the Great on their month-long 20-show national tour in Spring 2023. Earlier in the Spring, Olive filled up rooms in a series of headline & co-headline shows in LA, Boston, Salt Lake City, and Denver.

In June 2022, Olive joined peers Kevin Atwater and Odie Leigh on a “Sleepover Themed” tour of the American South and East Coast. After the joy and success of this co-headlining tour, the three friends set out on a West Coast “Sleepover Tour” in September, selling out multiple venues and selling over 250+ tickets at others.

In March 2022, Olive joined iconic power pop trio Jukebox the Ghost for two weeks of their national tour.

Additionally, Olive has shared their music in their hometown of Portland, Oregon’s most notable venues including an opening slot for Noah Kahan at the Crystal Ballroom. Since moving to Los Angeles in October of 2021, Olive has played headline shows at the Moroccan Lounge and the Silverlake Lounge.