DISCO EPK Overview
An Electronic Press Kit (EPK) is a collection of media assets used to promote a product. Depending on who you are promoting to, this could also be referred to as a “one-sheet” or “media pack.”
Outside of DISCO, these media assets are typically delivered as different links and/or attachments in an email. This creates a clumsy and tedious experience for the recipient, who has to click through and collate multiple resources to get the full picture.
This guide to DISCO EPKs will help you to create beautiful presentations that host everything your contacts need to promote your project, all through a single link.
You’ll learn about:
- Uploading necessary audio and media files
- Editing metadata
- Adding playlist sections and adjusting settings
- Designing with the Album page template
Let's Preview the End Result
This is an example of a DISCO Album page design that highlights the following elements:
- Artist hero image
- Artist bio
- Album artwork
- Social media links
- Audio, video, doc, and image files
- Embedded video
Check out our EPK Building Video Course for a deep dive into setup and design.
Step 1: Upload Audio
Upload AIFF or WAV files in the Playlist Creator (DISCO will make MP3s automatically)
Don’t forget to upload mastered instrumental versions (especially useful for sync pitching).
Step 2: Edit Metadata
If you’re just getting started wrangling your metadata, check out this article covering core metadata concepts and organization tips.
Bulk Edit Metadata on all Tracks
Select Edit All from the top right menu:
Make sure the following fields are clearly filled out:
- Track art
- Artist
- Album
- Year
- Release Date
- Comments (with your contact information)
Edit Metadata on Individual Tracks
Hover over the Track Info icon and select "View full track info" to edit each track's metadata.
- Clean up titles - remove mastering and mix versioning
- Include additional info e.g. (Instrumental), (Explicit), (Clean), (Remix), or (feat. xxxx), etc.
- Add lyrics (in the tab next to Metadata)
- Add BPM (not critical)
- The Grouping field can include your contact info; additional info on rights you control is also helpful
- Add writer splits and who controls the rights to license the publishing and master recording
- Check out some advanced metadata scenarios for more complex rights holder examples.
Click "Save" at the bottom right.
Use the arrows at the top right to skip to the next track in the playlist
Don't forget to SAVE before moving on to the next track!
Step 3: Upload Media Files
The point of this exercise is to add all necessary media files onto one page, so that recipients only have to click one link to access everything they might require from you.
- Upload Press shots - high resolution and smaller versions for web use
- Album artwork files
- Bio and/or press release PDF or text docs
- Videos files
- ZIP stems and upload
Drag and drop the files in to order
Step 4: Add Playlist Sections
Sections can be used to divide your playlists into collapsible folders
- Add a section for Instrumentals
- Add a section for Media Files
Step 5: Playlist Settings
- Save a playlist to access its settings.
Show Lyrics & Streaming Only
- Show lyrics for each track in the playlist.
- Streaming only is an option, but you'd typically send a downloadable playlist.
For sensitive pre-release material, watermark the playlist (Watermarking is an add-on feature).
Step 6: Presentation
The Presentation tab has three design templates: Default Playlist, Artist Pages and Album Pages.
Select the Album template and fill in the album art, release date, hero image, bio, socials, and embed a video.
Read our Playlist presentation article for in-depth instructions.
Save & Share
Save the Presentation tab and playlist - then you're ready to share!
Learn about the different playlist sharing options to make sure you capture the best access stats.
Wrap-Up
Creating an EPK using DISCO is an excellent way to professionally and efficiently promote your project. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a stunning presentation that includes all necessary media assets. This will allow your contacts to effectively promote your project and give it the attention it deserves.