It’s been announced today that NME won’t be a printed magazine anymore. Group managing director of music Paul Cheal, in fact, has stated that “NME is one of the most iconic brands in British media and our move to free print has helped to propel the brand to its biggest ever audience on NME.com. At the same time, we have also faced increasing production costs and a very tough print advertising market. Unfortunately we have now reached a point where the free weekly magazine is no longer financially viable. It is in the digital space where effort and investment will focus to secure a strong future for this famous brand”.
As readers of any type of music and non-music magazine are aware of these days, printing has become very costly and not profitable, thus the online platform is that which many publications have decided to go for, including NME.
In this case, however, the loss will be deeper and more heartfelt by readers and admirers. NME has, in fact, represented a leading magazine for music fans, music industry members and, of course, artists.Being featured on the cover of NME meant a big deal for an artist, in terms of popularity surge and artistic profile.
Moreover, NME has been one of the best media outlets at detecting new movements, new bands, new waves of art, from glam rock to punk.
According to the Guardian, the print edition’s cover interview will be replaced with a new weekly digital franchise, titled the Big Read. However, occasional printed edition will be issued from time to time, but only as special editions such as paid-for series NME Gold.
The magazine became a free, ad-funded publication in 2015 after a massive decline in circulation occured. When the magazine went free in 2015 the cover price had risen to £2.60, something that caused circulation to drop as low as 15000.
Starting in 1952, in its 66 years of print edition, NME covered artists of the caliber of David Bowie and The Beatles and set the bar for music journalists all over the world and its famous award ceremony and events are something every artist dreams of attending.
While the loss of a precious print music magazine is something to mourn about, NME will most certainly still be a must-read publication.
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