Music Press Kit Template: Moodboards, Video Treatments, and Single Launch Plans

Stop losing press opportunities because your materials look like a file dump

If you’re a musician or indie label trying to launch an album in 2026, the problem isn’t just the music — it’s how you present the project as a cohesive, discoverable transmedia package. Reporters, bookers, playlist curators, and sync supervisors decide in seconds. They need a single, elegant press kit that tells the album’s narrative across audio, film, visuals, and social. This article gives a ready-to-use press-kit and album-launch template, plus practical instructions for building moodboards, video treatments, and single-release calendars that professionals actually use.

Why transmedia franchises matter in 2026

In late 2025 and early 2026 the industry accelerated a clear trend: labels and IP studios are packaging music as transmedia franchises. High-profile examples — Mitski shaping a record around Shirley Jackson references and launching with a mystery phone line, and transmedia studio The Orangery signing with WME — show that buyers and agents want intellectual property, not just playlists.

That means your press kit has to do more than list tracks. It must present a narrative world with visual references, film-driven ideas for videos, merchandising concepts, sync potential, and a social release calendar that maps how you’ll convert attention into streams, tickets, and product sales.

What you’ll get in the downloadable press-kit + launch-plan template

The template bundle (download link at the end) is built for creators and managers who need repeatable, professional deliverables. It includes the following files and assets:

• One-sheet / Pitch deck (PDF + editable InDesign/Figma) — project overview, key art, artist bio, target audience & media hooks.
• Moodboard pack (JPG/PNG + Figma file) — cinematic references, color palette, type direction, and wardrobe/craft notes per song.
• Video treatment templates (Word + Figma storyboards) — three treatment lengths: 60s, 3–5 minute short film, and vertical social edit.
• Single release & album launch calendar (Google Sheets + printable PDF) — week-by-week tasks, deadlines, and content assignments, optimized for a 10-week single-to-album flow.
• Assets checklist & delivery tracker (CSV + Airtable template) — stems, stems for remixes, masters, stems, artwork files, high-res photos, captions, and legal clearances.
• Media contact list & pitch templates (Gmail/Mail Merge + email subject lines) — tailored templates for blogs, playlists, press, radio, and managers.

How to use the template: quick-start guide

Start with the one-sheet and moodboard. Those two documents set your narrative and visual language. Use the following steps.

1. Assemble the hook — one short sentence that says what this album is and why anyone should care (e.g., “A gothic chamber-pop album inspired by haunted-house literature and late-night radio confessions”).
2. Pick three film references — these become your moodboard anchors (e.g., The Haunting of Hill House, Grey Gardens, and a single auteur film for color + lensing cues).
3. Build the visual language — colors, textures, wardrobe notes, and location types in the moodboard. Export high-res moodboard JPGs for press packages.
4. Choose one signature video concept — fill the 60s and 3–5 minute video treatment templates and list vertical edits for social.
5. Plan the calendar — map singles, video drops, live sessions, playlist pushes, and PR outreach using the release calendar.

Creating moodboards that land coverage

A moodboard is the most underused PR asset. If done well, it communicates production values to videographers, photographers, stylists, and press without a long phone call.

Step-by-step moodboard workflow

1. Start with cinematic anchors — pick 2–3 films or TV references. In 2026, publications respond to clear film references because they communicate lighting, set dressing, and tone quickly (Mitski’s Hill House reference is a recent example that journalists repeated verbatim).
2. Collect 12–15 high-res images — stills that show color, composition, wardrobe, and texture. Use legal image sources or AI-generated mockups if you own the output rights.
3. Define a color palette — export HEX codes and Pantone equivalents. Color consistency matters for streaming artwork and social tiles.
4. Label moodboard tiles — each tile gets a short caption: “lighting: tungsten/low key,” “camera: 50mm shallow,” “props: rotary phone, tablecloths.”
5. Deliver two variations — a press version (high-res, printable) and a social version (square + vertical crops for Instagram/TikTok).

Tools and 2026 best practices

• Figma remains standard for collaborative moodboards — linkable and editable for directors and stylists.
• Generative-AI image tools are useful for rapid mockups, but always document prompts and usage rights. By 2026, many outlets ask about ownership of AI-generated imagery.
• Include an accessibility note describing color contrast and alternative text for critical art assets.

Video treatments: from idea to production-ready brief

A strong video treatment in your press kit should make a director or label executive able to greenlight a shoot with minimal back-and-forth. Use the template’s standardized sections.

Video treatment template (what to include)

• Concept elevator — one sentence summary (what’s the core image and emotional arc?).
• Synopsis — 3–5 sentences outlining the scene progression.
• Visual references — call out moodboard tiles and film references (frame numbers or image IDs).
• Technical brief — camera, lens suggestions, lighting style, aspect ratios for final deliverables (e.g., 16:9 film + 9:16 social verticals).
• Cast & wardrobe notes — character profiles and prop lists.
• Shot list & storyboard frames — essential beats and anchor shots with rough durations.
• Distribution edits — plan the 15s, 30s, and 60s vertical cuts and caption hooks.
• Budget & schedule estimate — high-level production costs and a suggested two-to-five day shoot schedule.

Example: single video seeded from a moodboard

Imagine an intimate single inspired by haunted-house literature. The concept elevator: “A reclusive woman hears messages in static and rehearses conversations with a younger self.” Visual references: dim-lit hallway shots, cameos of handwritten notes, a rotary phone prop. The treatment maps a main 4-minute short plus a 60s version and three vertical cuts for reels. This multi-length approach increases opportunities for editorial features and playlist promos.

Single release plan & social calendar — a 10-week playbook

The downloadable Google Sheets calendar gives you a ready-to-run schedule. Below is a condensed 10-week plan you can adapt.

Weeks 1–2: Pre-announcement & mood seeding

• Secure creative assets: final master, high-res cover, 3 moodboard JPGs, 2 single photos.
• Soft-announcement teaser: 10–15s vertical clip with visual moodboard textures and date-only card.
• Begin press outreach window — send one-sheet to top 10 targeted outlets with a personalized hook.

Weeks 3–4: Single release & video premiere

• Drop single to DSPs and pitch editorial playlists (use pitch deck and one-sheet).
• Premiere the 3–5 minute video on owned channels + partnered outlet if possible (embed in your press kit link).
• Release vertical edits across TikTok, Reels, and Shorts tied to a caption challenge or micro-story.

Weeks 5–7: Content diversification

• Release acoustic/live take and a remix to keep momentum.
• Publish a behind-the-scenes video (director’s commentary) that references the moodboard films.
• Pitch features to podcasts and longform outlets using the transmedia angle: “This album inspired a short film.”

Weeks 8–10: Tour, sync, and reactivation

• Announce intimate shows or livestream; sell a limited-run merch capsule tied to moodboard artwork.
• Activate sync outreach for TV/film using a tailored deck showing film references and scene suggestions.
• Run a reactivation campaign: push playlist placements, paid social creative based on top-performing clip.

Pitch deck & one-sheet: what press and agencies actually open

Journalists and A&R execs judge clarity and narrative. Your one-sheet should be a single PDF that opens with a hook, shows key art (moodboard), lists release assets, and ends with contact and streaming links.

One-sheet checklist

• Hero image — high-res cover + one portrait.
• Elevator pitch — one crisp sentence and one supporting sentence about why this matters in 2026.
• Top-line credits — producers, notable collaborators, and notable sync placements.
• Release plan summary — key dates and content drops.
• Social proof — streaming numbers, press quotes, or festival selections.
• Contact & EPK link — booking agent, label, and direct manager contact.

Legal and rights checklist (don’t skip this)

By 2026, gatekeepers are stricter about clearances and ownership — especially where generative tools are involved. Include a legal section in your press kit.

• Master ownership: who owns the master and how can it be licensed?
• Publishing splits: percentages and admin contact.
• Sample clearances: noted or cleared, with contact info.
• Image & AI asset provenance: source, prompts, and signed release from the creator.
• Sync licensing contact: name and email for quick deals.

Distribution to press: timing and email templates

Deliver the press kit via a single short email that links to a hosted EPK (press-friendly URL). Attach only the one-sheet. Use the template’s subject-line variants and follow-up cadence.

Perfect pitch timing

• 10–14 days before single release: send personalized pitch to major outlets for exclusives.
• 3–5 days before release: send general press announcement with stream link (if embargo lifted early, state that clearly).
• Day of release: send reminder with video premiere embed and vertical cut files for social use.

For deliverability best practices, see Gmail AI and deliverability and pair messages with short, actionable attachments. Use the included email templates to reduce back-and-forth and increase open rates.

Measuring success: KPIs to include in the press kit

Reportable metrics show traction and help convert mid-tier press into larger features or sync deals. Add a KPI dashboard in your press kit that updates monthly.

• Streams and listeners (DSPs) — first-week streams and 28-day listeners.
• Engagement on social clips — views, likes, saves, and completion rate for 15–60s cuts.
• Press pickups — number of features and estimated reach.
• Sync inquiries and licenses issued.

Real-world examples and 2026 trends to follow

Two recent moves illustrate why this approach works in 2026. Mitski’s pre-release strategy leaned into literary and cinematic references and a transmedia touchpoint (a mysterious phone number), which generated headlines and social conversation ahead of the release. Meanwhile, agencies are signing transmedia IP studios like The Orangery — signaling a market appetite for projects that can expand to graphic novels, film, and merchandising.

“Packaging music as transmedia increases both editorial interest and licensing value.”

Use those examples as social proof in your one-sheet — not as a gimmick, but as evidence that your album has conceptual depth and market potential.

Advanced strategy: packaging beyond the album

Think about IP and long-term value. Build at least one transmedia extension into your press kit — a short script for a film short, comic page art, or an interactive website narrative. Agencies and sync departments are looking for projects they can adapt and re-sell.

Ideas for transmedia add-ons

• Short film storyboard derived from the lead single’s video treatment.
• 4-page graphic novel starter that elaborates a character from a lyric.
• Interactive website with found-phone easter eggs (like Mitski’s phone number stunt).

Use case: how a DIY artist turned a single into a short-film pitch

A midwest artist packaged a lead single with a moodboard inspired by 1960s cinéma vérité and provided a 5-minute film treatment. Within two weeks of sending the kit, a regional festival commissioned the short and a boutique boutique label licensed the single for a boutique distribution deal. The shared visual language (moodboard + treatment) made judging fit simple for programmers and buyers.

Checklist: final pre-send review

• One-sheet proofed and export-ready (PDF, <5MB).
• Moodboard JPGs exported in press and social sizes.
• Video treatments dated and correctly credited.
• Release calendar linked and assigned owners for each task.
• Legal clearances documented and accessible.
• EPK hosted on a short, memorable domain and mobile-optimized.

Actionable takeaways

• Lead with story and visuals: A single image + film reference tells faster than a 300-word bio.
• Standardize deliverables: Use templates so every press outreach looks professional and reduces friction for editorial picks.
• Plan for multi-format distribution: Always include vertical edits and social-first cuts in your video treatment.
• Document rights: By 2026, explain AI asset provenance and licensing in your kit.
• Build transmedia hooks: Even one extension (short film or comic) increases licensing interest and headlines.

Download the Press Kit & Launch Plan Template

Ready to ship a professional transmedia press kit with moodboards, video treatments, and a 10-week single-to-album calendar? Download the bundle, which includes editable Figma, InDesign, Google Sheets, and email templates — all pre-populated with sample copy inspired by recent 2025–2026 launches. Customize the files, swap images, and send in under 48 hours.

Download the press-kit + launch-plan template (includes instructions and a 30-minute onboarding checklist).

Conclusion & next steps

Journalists, A&R, and sync buyers in 2026 are looking for projects that read like IP. A professional press kit that centers on moodboards, film-driven video treatments, and a tightly timed release calendar turns your album into a package they can sell, program, and license. Start with the one-sheet and moodboard, finish with a distribution plan, and use the template to systemize every release.

Call to action

Download the transmedia press-kit and album-launch template now, plug in your art and copy, and launch like a pro. If you want a custom review, send your one-sheet and moodboards to hello@definitely.pro for a 15-minute critique that will make your pitch press-ready.

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