From a struggling newspaper to a global digital brand, the NME story is music history.
In short: Founded in 1952, the New Musical Express transformed from a failing trade paper into the definitive voice of British youth culture. Through decades of shifting musical tides, punk revolutions, and digital pivots, the publication has survived by constantly reinventing itself, even as the very concept of a music magazine faced extinction.
The New Musical Express began in 1952 when Maurice Kinn purchased the struggling Accordion Times and Musical Express for £1,000. Under editor Ray Sonin, it quickly made history by publishing the first UK Singles Chart on 14 November 1952. By the 1960s, it had become a dominant force, championing British groups like The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Its circulation peaked in 1964 at 306,881 copies, a record that stood for over 50 years until the magazine was relaunched as a free publication in 2016.
The paper’s identity was forged in the crucible of the 1970s. After sales plummeted to 60,000, editor Alan Smith revitalized the publication by recruiting writers like Nick Kent and Charles Shaar Murray. This era saw the NME embrace the punk movement, featuring bands like the Sex Pistols and adopting a nihilistic, rebellious tone. By 1977, it was the essential guide to a cultural revolution. This period also established the paper's political voice, which became increasingly socialist during the Thatcher era, culminating in a 1987 cover interview with Labour leader Neil Kinnock.
The late 20th century brought intense volatility. The 'hip-hop wars' of the 1980s saw internal staff divisions over musical direction, while the 1990s were defined by the rise and fall of Britpop. The NME coined the term 'Britpop' in 1994, but as the genre faded, the publication struggled to find its footing. Following years of declining newsstand sales, the print edition ceased in 2018 after 66 years, only to be revived as a bimonthly release in 2023 under the ownership of BandLab Technologies, which acquired the brand in 2019.
Throughout its history, the NME has been both a tastemaker and a target. It has faced accusations of elitism, political bias, and commercial interference, yet it remains a central pillar of music journalism. From the raw, regional store-sourced charts of 1952 to the digital-first strategy of NME.com, the publication has consistently mirrored the changing landscape of the music industry itself.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: NME
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