One-Sheet

In-Depth Explanation

What is a One-Sheet?

A One-Sheet (also known as a Press Sheet or EPK summary) is exactly what it sounds like: a single, beautifully designed page (usually a PDF) that acts as an artist's resume and promotional flyer.

In the highly saturated music industry, professionals (like journalists, radio DJs, A&R reps, and festival bookers) receive hundreds of pitches a day. They do not have time to read a five-page biography or click through ten different links to figure out who you are. The One-Sheet is designed to communicate everything a professional needs to know about your new release in under 60 seconds.

What to Include on a One-Sheet

A professional One-Sheet must balance visual appeal with hard, actionable data. It typically includes the following elements:

1. High-Quality Imagery

• Artist Press Photo: A professional, high-resolution photo of the artist that immediately communicates their brand and genre.
• Release Artwork: The cover art for the single, EP, or album being promoted.

2. The Elevator Pitch (Bio)

A very short, punchy paragraph (2-3 sentences) explaining who the artist is, where they are from, and what they sound like ("For fans of: [Artist A] and [Artist B]"). This is not a life story; it's a hook.

3. The Release Info

• Title of the release.
• Release date.
• A brief sentence about the meaning or story behind the specific song/album.
• A clear, clickable link to listen to a private stream of the unreleased music (usually a private SoundCloud or DISCO link).

4. Key Statistics and Accomplishments (The "Brag Sheet")

This is arguably the most important section. Industry professionals want proof of momentum. Bullet points should highlight:

• Monthly Listeners and total streams on Spotify/Apple Music.
• Social media follower counts (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube).
• Notable previous press coverage (quotes from blogs or magazines).
• Major playlist placements (e.g., "Featured on Spotify's New Music Friday").
• Notable live shows (e.g., "Sold out the Roxy," or "Opened for [Famous Artist]").

5. Contact Information

Clear, easy-to-read contact details for the artist's team:

• Management email.
• Booking agent email.
• Publicist email (or direct artist email if self-managed).
• Links to all social media profiles.

How to Use a One-Sheet

The One-Sheet is the ultimate attachment for cold-emailing industry professionals.

1. Press Campaigns: When emailing a music blog or magazine asking them to review your new single, attach the One-Sheet PDF to the email.
2. Booking Shows: When emailing a venue promoter asking to open for a touring band, the One-Sheet proves you have the local draw and professionalism required for the gig.
3. Radio Promotion: College and indie radio station directors use One-Sheets to quickly decide if a track fits their format.
4. Label/Publisher Pitching: When introducing yourself to an A&R representative, the One-Sheet acts as your business card.

Design Best Practices

• Keep it to ONE page. If it spills over onto a second page, you have failed the assignment. Cut the fluff.
• Use clickable links. Because it will be sent as a PDF, ensure that all the links (to your music, your Instagram, your website) are active hyperlinks. Do not make the promoter type your URL manually.
• Use clean, readable fonts. Do not let complex graphic design obscure the crucial data. The text must be legible on a phone screen.