NME (magazine)

NME (magazine)
Adrian Boot · Public domain · source
Title	NME
Frequency	Weekly (historically)
Category	Music magazine
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

NME (magazine) began as a British weekly music publication that became influential across popular music scenes. Founded in the early 1950s, it chronicled developments from Elvis Presley and The Beatles through Punk rock and Britpop to contemporary Indie rock and Electronic dance music, shaping public perceptions of artists such as David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, Radiohead, The Smiths, The Clash, Joy Division, Blur, Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, Kanye West, Beyoncé, Adele, Coldplay, Arcade Fire, The Killers, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Green Day, U2, Metallica, Madonna, Prince, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Drake, The Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, LCD Soundsystem, Sufjan Stevens, PJ Harvey, Florence + The Machine, The xx, Tame Impala, Vampire Weekend, The 1975, Billie Eilish, Stereolab, Belle and Sebastian, Sonic Youth, Pixies, Against Me!, Muse, Depeche Mode, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Morrissey, Ian Curtis, Kurt Cobain, Björk, Travis.

History

NME was launched in a postwar era influenced by figures like Frank Sinatra, Bill Haley, Little Richard, Buddy Holly and institutions such as BBC and venues like Royal Albert Hall, targeting readers during the rise of Rock and roll, Skiffle, Beat music and later British Invasion. Editorial shifts reflected cultural moments from the Swinging London scene with coverage of Mary Quant and Carnaby Street to the punk upheaval associated with Sex Pistols, Malcolm McLaren, Vivienne Westwood and DIY fanzines, then through the jangly Manchester network around Factory Records, Tony Wilson, Madchester scenes with Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses. The magazine adapted through ownership changes involving companies like IPC Media, digital transformations paralleling platforms such as Myspace, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and later streaming services exemplified by Spotify and Apple Music.

Content and Features

Content combined news, reviews, interviews and features on artists including Elvis Costello, Elton John, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Liam Gallagher, Noel Gallagher, Thom Yorke, Bono, Chris Martin, Billy Corgan, Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl, Trent Reznor, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Kurt Vile, Mark E Smith, Alex Turner, Jarvis Cocker, Graham Coxon, Gillian Welch, St. Vincent, Ani DiFranco, Nick Drake, Syd Barrett and many others. Regular features included album and single reviews, gig listings, columns, genre surveys encompassing Punk rock, New Wave, Glam rock, Heavy metal, Hip hop, Grime, Dubstep and special issues tied to events like the Glastonbury Festival, Reading Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, SXSW, Isle of Wight Festival and awards such as the Mercury Prize and BRIT Awards. Photography and visual coverage invoked photographers and artists linked to Helmut Newton, Annie Leibovitz, Don McCullin and movements around Pop art.

Circulation and Distribution

Historically circulated in urban centers including London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Bristol with distribution networks connected to retailers such as WHSmith, independent record shops like Rough Trade, music venues, festivals and student unions at institutions like University of Manchester, University of Leeds, King's College London and University of Glasgow. Circulation numbers fluctuated with competition from global magazines such as Rolling Stone, Melody Maker, Q (magazine), Kerrang!, MOJO (magazine), Spin (magazine), and the migration of readership to web portals and aggregators tied to Pitchfork, AllMusic, Consequence of Sound, BBC Music and social platforms.

Editorial Staff and Contributors

Editors, writers and photographers associated with the title included figures connected to Nick Kent, Paul Morley, Julie Burchill, Danny Baker, Tony Parsons, Dorian Lynskey, Garry Mulholland, Mark Sutherland, Andrew Collins, Jon Savage, Simon Reynolds, Ryan Leas, Phil Sutcliffe, David Hepworth, illustrators and photographers who also worked for NME peers such as Melody Maker and Q (magazine). Freelance contributors often overlapped with publications and broadcasters like The Guardian, The Observer, The Independent, The Times, BBC Radio 1, XFM (radio) and cultural critics connected to academic institutions such as Goldsmiths, University of London and University of Westminster.

Influence and Legacy

The magazine shaped tastes across scenes tied to labels and imprints like Rough Trade Records, Factory Records, Creation Records, 4AD, Island Records, Columbia Records, Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, and influenced artists who performed at milestones such as Madison Square Garden, Wembley Stadium, Royal Albert Hall and cultural phenomena around Top of the Pops and Later... with Jools Holland. Its branded events and year-end lists impacted critical reception comparable to the Mercury Prize and shaped crossover into film, television and fashion through connections to Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Oasis (band), Blur (band), Spice Girls and solo careers of George Michael.

Criticism and Controversies

The publication faced criticism over editorial stances during periods such as the Punk rock explosion and the Britpop rivalry between Blur and Oasis, accusations of hype and gatekeeping leveled by artists and scenes including Manic Street Preachers and Suede, disputes over review scoring and commercial relationships with major labels like Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group, plus controversies around provocative covers, legal disputes involving personalities, and debates over political endorsements intersecting with public figures such as Tony Blair and cultural campaigns tied to benefit concerts like Live Aid and War Child. Allegations of sexism, representation, diversity and editorial bias prompted discussion within media ecosystems shared with outlets like The Independent and The Guardian.

Category:British music magazines