A Treasure Trove of Effective Musician And Band Bio Examples and Templates
So, you want to write your musician or band bio, eh?
Tell me if any of this sounds familiar:
- You should write your bio for other people…
- Keep your bio current and update it with every release
- Write several versions for different audiences
Yes, the cost of not having a bio is great. You risk blending in, not being seen as a professional, and not getting the respect or attention you deserve.
Here’s the thing:
Most of the advice you get on how to actually write a musician or band bio blows.
Enough.
I’m Greg, independent musician and founder of Musicianmonster.com, a top destination for musicians that want to get heard.
I combed through the internet looking for the most effective musician and band bios and realized there was nothing comprehensive on something so critical for our success.
If you go through these steps, it’ll be a game changer.
Let’s dive into some of the best resources on MusicianMonster to help you write a memorable, lasting, and effective bio so you stand out and grab the attention of real fans and the right music industry people.
Getting Started: How to write a musician bio or band bio (the right way)
For a musician or a band, your bio is critical. But not for the reason you’d expect.
There’s more.
Not only does your bio impact how fans and professionals perceive you (for better or worse), it also impacts something more important: The way you see yourself.
And that’s just it.
Too many times we’re told to do things based on what other people like or want. We’re told to create to please other people, instead of ourselves.
Has that worked for you?
Probably not.
That’s because writing for other people is bad advice.
Here’s why:
As a music artist today, you are on your own.
If you want to get heard, you need to know why people should listen to you. You also need to believe in that message, so you feel confident enough to put yourself “out there”.
And when writing your bio, frame it from that perspective.
So before you write your bio, remember who you’re writing for: You.
The trick is to make it interesting so people read it. And in Step #1 of writing your musician bio, I’m going to show you how to do it.
Step #1: Your MusicStory
If you want your music to get heard, this has to happen:
People need to listen and then tell their friends.
There is a proven way to do that—a timeless method you can use to get heard and, more importantly, become unforgettable.
What is it?
And if you want people to listen, and spread the word, you better start using it. The easiest, most effective place to start is with your bio.
How?
I call it the MusicStory Formula, it’s a simple way to find your story, use it in your bio and stand out in all of your marketing.
The 3-Part MusicStory Forumla
The MusicStory Formula is simple. It has 3-parts and is based on a traditional story arc.
The formula is this:
[Struggle] + [Catalyst] + [Ascension] = Music Story
I recommend you learn more about the formula first via the link above before you begin using it in your bio, but here’s a brief explanation of each part to get you started.
- Define a struggle – The place you started or a battle you lost, a problem or a personal struggle.
- Catalyst event – Explain when you started using music to better your life (a decision, “ah-ha” moment, a crossroads, etc.)
- Ascension – State how you use your music to continue that transformation and/or help others.
Each part in this formula is based on the timeless story arc that has been used to tell stories for millennia. That’s why it’s so effective in your bio.
I break down the MusicStory formula for you in this article, in addition to giving you examples of how uber successful musicians use the formula in their own bios and marketing.
Why Is This Important?
You are competing with many music artists all fighting for attention. Your story along with a punchy, professional bio is your secret weapon.
Want to write an effective musician or band bio and have all the resources in one place? The MusicStory worksheet (it’s free) includes the MusicStory Formula, 3 Music Bio archetypes and Templates for each. Get it below:
Now that you have your MusicStory, you’ve set yourself up to stand out in a crowded industry. How do you start using it? I show you how in the next step.
Step #2: Bio type, length, and location (how to see big results with the least amount of work)
Once you use the MusicStory formula to get your story, then the next step is to use it in your bio.
But to set you up for success, you need to get strategic. Who wants to invest time and energy on something nobody sees? Nobody!
And that’s why you want to know what you’re actually going to write and the purpose and objective. This will guarantee your bio gets you the results you’re looking for so you don’t waste time and energy on something that doesn’t move the needle.
I break it down for you in this article. I recommend you read it before you continue.
There are two types of bios:
- A ‘Long’ bio (more on that in a sec)
- And a ‘Short’ bio
Each bio has an ideal length.
- Your Long bio should be under 200 words.
- Your Short bio, should be less than 190 characters (that’s characters, not words).
And each bio has a specific purpose.
- Your long bio goes on your website’s About or Bio page and on your EPK (Electronic Press Kit) if you have one
- Your short bio goes on your social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)
To get started, writing your Short bio, I include several short musician bio examples and a show you an easy way to start writing here.
Once your Short bio is written, paste it into your social profiles. Then, come back to this page and begin Step 3…
Step #3: Start writing your music bio (the easy way)
So, you’ve written your MusicStory, Short bio and added it to your appropriate social profiles to break the ice. Good!
It’s time for the third step: Writing your Long bio, then finally adding it to your website and/or EPK.
If that seems like a lot of work, don’t worry. I’m going to show you how to do it the easy way.
How?
Templates.
You can get your templates for free in this article…
…or you can sign up for my free MusicStory and bio worksheet with everything you need:
The 3 Most Effective Musician Bios
There are 3 types of musician bios:
- Social Proof
- Story and Brand
- Question and Answer
Each type leverages psychological principles, so you can rest easy knowing your bio will grab the right people’s attention.
The good news is that you don’t have to be a psychology professor or novelist to use them. And you don’t have to start from scratch either.
You can use one of the 3 templates I’ve put together for you.
Get your music bio template and tips on how to use it here.
Which Template Is Right For You?
Your best template choice will depend on your situation. I’ve created these templates with examples you can copy and paste and show you how to pick the one that’s best for you:
Get those templates here and start writing your bio in 5-minutes.
Once that’s complete, add it to your website’s About or Bio page. If you or your band has an EPK/electronic press kit or any other promo material that’s appropriate, you can put it there as well.
Final Writing Tips
Before we wrap this up, here are two tips you want to consider once your bio is written:
Your bio should be timeless
If someone says you should update your bio with every release…don’t.
Let the News, Discography or Shows pages on your website keep people current. Or your EPK.
Make this easy on yourself. It should be timeless (it’s a reflection of you).
Example: My short bio is this: “I play drums. I travel the world. I like the internet.” It hasn’t changed in 6 years.
Your music bio is different. If you have to constantly update your music bio, then it’s not a good music bio.
Better done than perfect
Your bio is important, but don’t let that pressure hold you back. Through writing your bio you also define yourself. That’s a process. It’s important to start and see what feels right. You can refine as you practice and explore. Just like music, it gets better.
Which is why I have three templates you can copy and paste. Get those here.
It’s the easiest place to start.
And Now You’re Done…
Look…
I’ve always believed getting clear on who you are as an artist has to happen first in order to make your mark. If you want to stand out and grab the attention of real fans and the right music industry people, your bio is the best place to start.
Now I showed you how to do it.
You can get a summary of everything in my MusicStory and MusicBio worksheet here. It’s free.
Plus…
If you want more strategies on how to stand out and build your music brand, you should definitely download the cheatsheet:
…Also free.
I hope you found this helpful.
Until next time…
Rock on and prosper.
(If you did, would you mind sharing it?) Thank you.
