Harp Magazine (July/August 2008 Issue)

Harp Magazine is printed 8 times annually and is distributed nationally in the US as well as 14 other countries. Harp is available at newsstands, bookstores, record stores and other outlets and is read by thousands of music industry professionals in addition to tens of thousands of in-the-know music fans.

In addition to Harp's regular circulation, there is bonus distribution of each issue at appropriate festivals, conferences and special events. Harp is widely distributed at the hottest consumer and trade music festivals including SXSW, CMJ, Bonnaroo, NAMM.

On the consumer side, HARP is available at Barnes & Noble, Barnes & Noble - University Book Stores, B. Dalton, Books-A-Million, Borders (USA, Australia, New Zealand and UK), Chapters/Indigo (Canada), Hastings Books & Records, Joe Muggs, Little Professor, Media Play, Tower Records, Virgin Megastores (USA & UK), and hundreds of independent bookstores, record stores, newsstands and magazine shops.

The editorial vision of Harp is to provide in-depth and accessible coverage of the contemporary popular music scene with an emphasis on alt-country, Americana, roots-rock, urban-folk and indie-pop styles. Harp explores the songwriting process.

Harp is interested in receiving indie rock, alternative country/folk/bluegrass, punk, power pop, jamband/fusion, world music, blues, contemporary progressive and psychedelic rock, underground hip-hop. Both new releases and reissues/archival projects are covered. Please note that Harp does not cover jazz (that’s the domain of our sister publication JazzTimes) or classical.

Both newcomers and veterans are welcome to submit. Harp doesn’t require an artist to be “established” or have previous releases. Each issue will typically include major label artists, upper-tier indie artists and artists still at the self-releasing stage. National distribution is not a requirement either; when CDs are reviewed, Harp will include whatever relevant contact info is provided, from a label URL to a MySpace page to an email address.

An ideal, Harp-worthy artist will first and foremost be familiar with Harp’s coverage in the past, which can be gleaned from Harp’s website, which has several years’ worth of issues archived online.

To get an even better feel about what Harp covers, recent Harp cover artists and features include Nick Cave, Tom Morello, Bright Eyes, Mary Weiss, Rufus Wainwright, Deerhoof, Afghan Whigs, Porter Wagoner, Wilco, Arctic Monkeys, Henry Rollins, Leonard Cohen, Dinosaur Jr, Maria Taylor, Second Life, White Stripes, Interpol, Polyphonic Spree, Hunter S. Thompson, Buffalo Tom, Meat Puppets, Ryan Adams, Ian Hunter, Emily Haines, Kings of Comedy, Rilo Kiley, Spoon, Iron & Wine, Eisley, Manu Chao, Josh Ritter, KT Tunstall, Nirvana, Robert Gordon, Nick Lowe, Gram Parsons, Devendra Banhart cover, features on Band of Horses, Thurston Moore, the Replacements, Steve Earle, Okkervil River, Bjork, David Lynch and the new wave of soul and funk.

Selections for any given issue will be defined by a sound that is fresh and/or cutting edge, and not cookie-cutter, mainstream pop. It will offer something unique or meaningful both lyrically and sonically. Harp also takes note of whether an artist is presented and packaged professionally, both from the standpoint of the person/band, and the actual musical product.

HARP AUDIO DOWNLOAD PROGRAM



Harp is also making its Audio Download Program available to Sonicbids artists who submit at a HUGE DISCOUNT, over 80% off its open rate. . The Audio Download Program is a solid opportunity to get promotional tracks delivered to some of the most passionate music fans in the world and will drive traffic to your website and/or MySpace page or point folks to the e-commerce site of your choice.

The Audio Download Program offers

• One track available for user download on the Harp downloads page.


• Rotating CD cover image on HarpMagazine.com home page.


• Label logo on the Harp downloads page, and a link to your label or artist website.


• Link to the e-commerce site of your choice for CD purchases.


• CD cover image on the HarpMagazine.com downloads page.


• CD cover image and track info featured in a quarterly HARP magazine print ad, directing readers to the download page on HarpMagazine.com.

Each quarter, one Sonicbids Download Program participant will be awarded a free Harp Download package.



Please note: All artists who submit for coverage in Harp Magazine will receive a one-year subscription to Harp Magazine.