Onesheets as a Promotional Tool: Essential Tips for Musicians

This guide provides musicians with essential tips and techniques for maximizing the impact of onesheets as a promotional tool to reach industry professionals and expand their audience.

by Julia Kater of Bandzoogle

As a musician, getting the word out about your release is especially important, since new projects can create significant growth along your career path. A Onesheet is a precise, one-page document that musicians can use to promote upcoming projects, their music, and themselves. 

Gaining attention for your project is the objective of an effective Onesheet.

The Onesheet you present to industry professionals serves an effective and quick purpose for promotion:

• for booking agents: to book your show;
• for playlist curators: to highlight your release;
• for radio programmers: to feature your song;
• for series promoters, media publicists, and venue managers: to understand your artistry.

Create a stunning Onesheet for your project

Build a custom Onesheet you can proudly share with industry, using easy custom design tools for musicians. CREATE YOUR ONESHEET

What to include

Making a Onesheet for your music is straightforward and simple to do. These are the key elements to include when building your Onesheet, so you can distribute it to industry professionals and most effectively make a stunning impression:

Highlight your artist name

Make your artist name prominent, and quick to see. Use a font that can easily be read from up close and from away. If you have a logo, include it for recognizable branding.

Describe yourself

Use a short, engaging biography that highlights the journey of your release, your musical style, and achievements. Focus on unique selling points.

Include a memorable image

Bandzoogle’s ‘Image and Text’ feature allows you to easily add an artist or band picture, and have your name and musician bio professionally displayed alongside your image.

Showcase your latest release

Include album or single artwork, release date, and a brief description.

Highlight your notable track(s)

List a few standout tracks with streaming links or QR codes leading to where your track(s) can be streamed. 

Add a striking press quote

A quote from a trusted source like a music blog or reviewer will help your Onesheet appear professional. Include positive reviews or quotes from reputable sources to build credibility.

Feature your contact information

Make sure your booking contact, management contact, and press contact are clearly listed. A contact form is a great option if you don’t want to list the specific contact addresses of your team.

List your strongest media and streaming links

Provide links to your social media profiles and streaming platforms where you are most active and/or have the strongest following. QR codes can be handy here too.

Use high-quality images

Include a few professional photos. Make sure they are high resolution for use in press and promotional materials.

Highlight any tour dates

List any upcoming tour dates to show your current activity and reach. If you’ve got significant past shows, list them here.

Include a clear call to action

Clearly state what you want to accomplish with this Onesheet: booking a gig, getting a review, being included on a playlist, becoming part of a label’s roster of artists, etc. Whatever the goal, spell it out for the person reading your Onesheet.

Artist Onesheet: SHAZZE

Where to Use a Onesheet

Once you have built a Onesheet to promote your music, you’ll want to use it as a tool to get the word out about your release. You may even want to track your promotional efforts in a strategic manner, and document where you have sent your Onesheet (and follow up if need be).

Through your website and social media

Make your Onesheet available for download online – this helps fans and industry professionals quickly access important information about your music.

In email campaigns

Attach your Onesheet to emails when reaching out to booking agents, venues, and media. It provides them with a quick overview of your music, and makes a strong first impression.

In press releases

Include a specific Onesheet about your project in press releases about new music, your tours, or any significant achievements. This gives journalists all the key information they need about you, at a glance.

When networking

Bring printed copies of your Onesheet to industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities. It’s an easy way to make a lasting impression after having a conversation.

In promotional packages

Include your Onesheet in any promo packages you’re sending to radio stations, playlist curators, reviewers, blogs, magazines, and other press sources.

When approaching potential labels and partners

Include your professional Onesheet to demonstrate your accomplishments and music career objectives

Onesheet tips

Keep it concise

A Onesheet is meant to be a single page, so stick to the most important information. It should be easy to digest, and quick to read. 

Use a professional layout

Invest in a professional design. Bandzoogle offers specific Onesheet templates to help you. These pre-populated layouts include suggested features to help you build a Onesheet to book shows, highlight a new release, promote your song to radio, and to showcase your work to venues or publicists.

Tailor it for your audience

Customize your Onesheet depending on who you’re sending it to. Media, booking agents, promoters, reviewers, labels, journalists, podcast curators—each pitch should be specific to the person you’re contacting.

Update regularly

Keep your Onesheet current with your latest music releases, accolades, press quotes, shows, and contact information. 

Link back to your music website

A Onesheet is a single page to accomplish a specific goal, and it should always link back to your music website where your full career is listed alongside other media like photo galleries and videos for anyone to take a deeper dive into your music.

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A well-designed Onesheet can be a crucial tool in your promotional arsenal, offering a snapshot of your music and brand in a professional, quick-to-read, and visually appealing format. Use it strategically to make a strong impression on industry professionals and help advance your music career.