Rising acts Karmin, Dev, Rita Ora, Rye Rye, and indie bands Delta Rae and Sleeper Agent are battling it out for a chance to cover Rolling Stone magazine (Video)

Music magazine Rolling Stone is hosting a reader-voted contest to see which rising female artist or female-fronted band will join other distinguished ladies in the music industry on its special "Women Who Rock" issue, due out in September. Among the artists competing are Dev, Rita Ora, and Rye Rye, along with female-fronted acts Karmin, Delta Rae, and Sleeper Agent. The contest was announced earlier this week by the publication.

“The editors at Rolling Stone picked six female fronted-bands and female solo acts to compete for the flip-cover of Rolling Stone’s Women In Rock issue. It's up to you to choose the winner,” mentions Rolling Stone's "Women Who Rock" web page.

The contest will be two rounds long. Round one has already started and will continue on until July 23. Among the six ladies vying for this special opportunity, the public has the opportunity to rate one or all acts and, based upon the quality and quantity of votes, two ladies will move onto the finals. Round two then takes place from August 3 to September 3, where the two finalists will compete in a battle of the bands-style competition, but the public vote still determines the winner. Along with appearing on Rolling Stone's fold-out cover, the winner will also perform at a private concert for the magazine.

While this contest might seem like an easy win for the more mainstream acts because of a possibly wider fan base, the public also includes Rolling Stone's readership who will probably be more inclined to support the indie rock bands. Basically, this contest can be anyone's game. Here's a little more about the ladies before you decide to rate the group.

According to Rolling Stone, duo Karmin – comprised of engaged couple Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan – came to prominence after blowing up the Internet with the cover of Chris Brown's “Look at Me Now” in 2010. Since then, the two landed a coveted performance spot on Saturday Night Live before the release of their debut EP, Hello. Karmin has a recent top 20 hit with the song, “Brokenhearted.”

Singer Dev, on the other hand, already has a number one hit to her name with “Like a G6,” the song that put her on the map with Far East Movement and The Cataracs. With “G6” at number one, Dev was also charting at the time with two other songs, “Bass Down Low” and “Backseat” with the New Boyz. Dev's solo song, “In the Dark,” would be highest peak yet at number eleven on the singles chart.

Jay-Z's latest protégé, British singer Rita Ora, is just beginning to make waves on the Billboard singles chart. Her U.S. single, “How We Do (Party),” has been climbing up the charts and is currently sitting at number 62. In the U.K., Ora already has a number one to her name with the Drake-penned, “R.I.P.” The songs are previewing her upcoming debut album, O.R.A.

Indie rapper Rye Rye was the first artist signed to M.I.A.'s record label, N.E.E.T. She was featured on Billboard magazine's list of “21 under 21.” Her growing clout landed her a small part in 21 Jump Street, for which she also recorded the film's main theme. Her song, “Never Will Be Mine,” with Swedish pop act Robyn, peaked at number eleven on Billboard's dance charts.

Sleeper Agent is a six-piece indie rock band. Female vocalist Alex Kandel would be snagging the cover if the band won the top prize. They have drawn comparisons to indie pop band The xx with how Kandel trades off vocals with Sleeper Agent's Tony Smith. The group played an acclaimed set at the Coachella music festival back in April. Rolling Stone listed Sleeper Agent as a band to watch in 2011.

Folk and rock Band Delta Rae is also a six-piece group. Three siblings and their friends comprise Delta Rae with Brittany Hölljes and Elizabeth Hopkins covering Rolling Stone if the group wins the "Women Who Rock" contest. Seymour Stein, the man who helped found major acts like Madonna and the Ramones, signed the group to a record deal. Delta Rae's debut record, Carry the Fire, was released earlier this month.

The public can rate their favorite acts now on RollingStone.com