History of Music Magazines (The NME)

History
The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles chart, in the 14 November 1952 edition. In the 1970s it became the best-selling British music newspaper, and then became associated with punk music.
The paper's first issue was published on 7 March 1952 after the Musical Express and Accordion Weekly was bought by London music promoter Maurice Kinn, and relaunched as the New Musical Express. It was initially published in a non-glossy tabloid format on standard newsprint. On 14 November 1952, taking its cue from the U.S. magazine Billboard, it created the first UK Singles Chart. The first of these was, in contrast to more recent charts, a top twelve sourced by the magazine itself from sales in regional stores around the UK.
During the 1960’s, it championed the new British groups emerging at the time. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were frequently featured on the front cover.

Typical Content
The magazine contains articles and information on:
- up and coming artists
- news on gigs and concerts
- new albums
- interviews with artists
- free gift
- competitions

Typical Reader
'Indie' reader. Interested in indie music. Fairly alternative and people who perfer a relexed and social lifestyle.

House Style
3 colour scheme, title always included. Colours such as black white and red are used often. Mixture of handwritten and san serif fonts. No serif fonts used. Block capitals often used for sell lines.

Production and Disrubution
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How are social groups represented?
artists on the front dont often smile so this could protray the reader in the same way. However the indie artists featured are often very successful and this could show that the readers of the nme are supportive and ambitious.