How to write an artist bio
Your bio is read by people deciding whether to press play, book you or write about you. They give it about ten seconds. This guide walks through what to put in it, in what order, and how to cut it down for each platform.
Updated 4 October 2026 · Examples use fictional artists
Start with the one sentence everyone needs
Before you write anything long, write one sentence that answers three questions: who you are, what you sound like, and where you are from. Everything else in the bio supports this line.
A useful shape is: [Name] is a [genre or description] [artist, band, producer] from [place] who [the thing that makes you different].
I'm a passionate musician who loves creating unique sounds.
Mira Kovač is a folk singer from Zagreb who writes about her grandmother's village and records everything in one take.
Add three concrete details
Readers remember facts, not adjectives. Pick the three most specific things you can say about your music or your story. A place, an instrument, a number, a person, a moment.
- •How and where you record (a garage, a borrowed studio, a laptop on night shifts)
- •Who you work with (a producer, a sibling in the band, a label)
- •What has already happened (a festival slot, radio play, a sold-out hometown show)
- •What you are releasing next and when
Mention achievements, but only the real ones
Specific milestones help a booker or a curator place you. 'Played Harbour Sounds Festival 2025' or 'supported The Gulls in Gdańsk' does more than 'performed at major venues'.
If you are early in your career, skip achievements entirely and lean on the story and the sound. A short honest bio reads better than a padded one.
Write in third person for press, first person for fans
Your EPK, Spotify profile and festival applications usually use third person, because journalists and promoters copy lines from it. Instagram, your newsletter and your website's About page can switch to first person and sound more personal.
Make three lengths from one draft
Write the long version once, then cut it down. You will reuse all three.
- •Short (1 to 2 sentences, under 150 characters): Instagram, X, festival line-up blurbs; TikTok needs it cut to 80 characters
- •Medium (one paragraph, 80 to 120 words): Spotify, Bandcamp, SoundCloud, press releases
- •Long (3 to 5 paragraphs, 250 to 400 words): EPK, website About page, label pitches
Phrases worth cutting
These show up in thousands of bios and tell the reader nothing about you:
- •'Passionate about music' (everyone writing a bio is)
- •'Unique sound that defies genre' (name the genres instead)
- •'Influenced by many artists' (name two or three)
- •'Taking the world by storm' or 'rising star' (let the facts do this)
Update it every release
An outdated bio that calls a 2023 EP 'upcoming' makes you look inactive. Change the last paragraph whenever you release something, play a notable show or sign with someone.
If your music is made with AI
Say it plainly and early, then move on to what you do: the lyrics you write, the sound you're after, how you shape and edit the tracks. Readers trust a bio that's upfront more than one that hides it.
Don't name the tool more than once and don't claim skills you don't use. 'I write the lyrics and build the songs with Suno, then edit and mix them myself' is enough.
Write yours in seconds
Describe your project in a sentence or two and Textlino writes a first draft of your bio you can edit.
Already have a draft? Check it with the free bio length checker.
Frequently asked questions
How long should an artist bio be?
Keep three versions: a short one under 150 characters for social profiles, a medium one of about 100 words for streaming platforms, and a long one of 250 to 400 words for your EPK and website.
Should an artist bio be written in first or third person?
Use third person for anything press, promoters or curators will read, such as your EPK and Spotify profile. First person works well on Instagram, your newsletter and your own website.
What if I don't have any achievements yet?
Leave them out. Describe your sound, where you come from and how you make music, then mention your next release. A short, specific bio is more convincing than one padded with vague claims.