pres.cards · free guide · 2026

Checklist: 12 Things Your Press Kit
Needs in 2026

For DJs, producers, and bands who want to sound professional to labels, promoters, and press.

Most press kits today are 2019-era PDFs or a Linktree with scattered links. That doesn't communicate professionalism — it communicates disorder. This checklist is the minimum viable version a promoter expects to see when you open the door with "Hi, I'm X, here's my press kit."

Identity (the Basics Many Forget)

Clear artist name No emoji or unusual characters in URLs.
Professional portrait photo Good lighting, clean framing, looking at the camera.
Short bio (50 words) For the first paragraph of any write-up.
Long bio (200-400 words) With verifiable milestones and context.

Music and Catalog

3-5 featured tracks Embedded from Spotify, not loose links.
Updated catalog Releases, dates, labels, links to each platform.
Representative live set SoundCloud or Mixcloud from a real club, not the studio.

Social Proof (What Sets You Apart)

Updated stats Followers, listeners, plays — with the date of the last refresh.
2-3 press quotes Resident Advisor, Mixmag, blogs. With a link to the original piece.
Schedule of dates Upcoming shows with venue, city, and ticket link.
Visible booking email Not a contact form — a direct email.

Bonus: What Raises the Bar

Technical rider (downloadable PDF) Stage plot, backline needs, production contact.
5-10 high-res press photos So a journalist can download directly instead of asking you by email.

Want to skip the 4 hours it takes to put this together?

pres.cards builds you a press kit with all of this loaded in 10 minutes. Choose a design, fill in your info, and it's live at pres.cards/your-name.