So, you want a bio that stands out?
Good!
But you’re a musician, you don’t write bios for a living. Maybe you’ve tried. Perhaps written several drafts.
The truth is, most musicians and industry professionals have it wrong.
I’m going to give you three proven musician and band bio templates that are proven to work and so simple that you can copy and paste. I’ll show you which template is best for you, so you can start writing an effective bio in less than 5 minutes.
Let’s get started.
1. Social Proof
The first template is all about ’Social Proof’. Social proof is a psychological principle identified in the book ‘Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion‘.
Social proof is essentially this: when we see a group of people doing something, we assume that what they’re doing must be right.
That’s why the first template is powerful.
It showcases your social media numbers and any appearances in major media. It provides ‘proof’ of your impact and success. Such that even if the person reading your bio hasn’t heard of you, they’ll think “wow, this guy (gal) is worth paying attention.”
That’s the power of social proof.
The ‘Social Proof’ bio includes six simple parts:
- State who you are.
- Set the stage with social proof on your two most popular social media platforms.
- Name most notable people or organizations you’ve worked with.
- Humanize yourself by noting your humble beginnings.
- Define the event that initiated your rise to success.
- End with an explanation of how you’re giving back.
This is the template…
‘Social Proof’ Template:
To use copy this template, simply highlight the text in the box above, then copy and paste it into whatever word processor you use. Then, replace the text between the brackets, like so: — [Greg’s double bracket example text] — with the appropriate words of your choice.
To see an example of this template in action, check out Peter Hollens’ website. His short bio is written in the third person. I had the pleasure of speaking with Peter when he came on the podcast. Listen to the interview here.
Should you use the ‘Social Proof’ template?
Only if you have the numbers to back it up. Without legit social proof (follower counts, media interviews, worked with large companies or celebrities) this template will have the opposite effect.
That’s the first template, here’s the second…
2. Story and Brand
The second template is about results. If you’re looking for a quick way to stand out to industry professionals, be remembered, and attract music fans, this bio template is for you.
The ‘Story and Brand’ musician bio has three parts…
- Position and mission.
- Three-part music story.
The goal of this bio is to make people remember you, it’s a good idea to define how you’re different and tell your story.
Position and Mission
Positioning is a music marketing strategy used to “frame” the way people think about your music as it relates to other artists [source].
In other words, people are going to compare you with others. The purpose of “positioning” is to anticipate that comparison and then craft your message accordingly.
If you want to learn more about this subject, read this book: ‘Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind‘.
After you position yourself as a unique artist, the next step is to tell your story so people remember you.
Three-part Music Story
According to Psychology Today, technology is moving fast, and the long term evolution of our brain hasn’t caught up. We still use stories to process information.
People have short attention spans. That’s why your story is important.
It’s also sincere and effective marketing. This goes for social media, your mailing list, marketing plans—whatever.
Now that you know the importance of your story, don’t forget to include it in your bio. Here’s how:
Your story contains 3 parts, one sentence each.
- State your humble beginnings, the place you started or a battle you lost.
- Define the event that started you on the path a better life (a decision, an ‘ah-ha’ moment, crossroad, etc.).
- Explain how you use your music to continue that transformation and/or help others.
Danika Holmes and Jeb Hart do a great job on their bio. Using ‘Position and Mission’ and ‘Social Proof’ in the “RADIO SPINS” section. Check out their bio page.
Here’s the second template…
‘Story and Brand’ Bio Template:
To use copy this template, simply highlight the text in the box above, then copy and paste it into whatever word processor you use. Then, replace the text between the brackets, like so: — [Greg’s double bracket example text] — with the appropriate words of your choice.
Should you use the ‘Story and Brand’ template?
This template is for you if you want to separate yourself from other music artists. The caveat is this: you have to know your story and be clear on your branding.
If you don’t, it just won’t work – but if that’s you, don’t worry. That’s what I made the third musician bio template.
3. Question and Answer
The third music bio is simple. It includes a series of defined questions designed to help you position your music and get clear on your story.
It’s personal, can be casual or humorous and relatable.
And a perfect place to start. You simply answer the questions. Here’s the template:
‘Question And Answer’ Bio Template:
To use copy this template, simply highlight the text in the box above, then copy and paste it into whatever word processor you use. Then, replace the text between the brackets, like so: — [Greg’s double bracket example text] — with the appropriate words of your choice.
Is the ‘Question and Answer’ bio right for you?
If your mission, brand, and Music Story aren’t clear, and you don’t have social proof—yet, this is the template I recommend. It’s the easiest place to start.
With the third and final musician bio covered, let’s wrap this up with final tips for writing the best bio for the template you pick.
Tips For Writing
Writing your musician bio often happens organically, over time. That’s why the most important step is to start.
The founding member of the Bottle Boys, and a MusicBrand graduate, shares the story of the group in a recent podcast episode. It’s proof that discovering your story is an organic process. Listen to the interview here.
The 3 bio templates leverage the psychological principles of story, social proof, and positioning to make you stand out. They can be used together or independently.
Check out The Bottle Boys bio on their website.
They use a combination of all three templates. Story and Brand and Social Proof for their band bio and the Question and Answer template in the individual band member bios.
The Bottom Line
Your bio is important. If a music fan doesn’t enjoy reading your bio, then they might not listen to your music. In the success of your music career, it makes a difference.
Even if you are not a writer, you now have three proven templates. All you have to do is pick one.
If you found this article useful, you should take a second and share it, tweet it to your friends, or comment.
Thanks.
