NME print edition making a comeback almost 70 years after the first copy launched
Posted by  badge Boss on Jul 21, 2023 - 09:43AM
NME is back with a brand new print edition for the first time in five years (Picture: NME)

Pop and culture magazine NME is a staple of British journalism and now it will return to the newsstand with a new print edition.

The original NME magazine was released in 1952 as a non-glossy tabloid which brought the first ever to print.

Championing new music and emerging artists, NME became the biggest standalone music site when its website launched in 1996.

Some of the world’s biggest pop and rock stars have graced the cover including Kasabian, Florence and the Machine, , and

After 66 years of print issues, it was reported the music industry giant would cease publication of their physical copies, although it would continue online.

Five years later, NME is back in print with a bi-monthly edition that promises to focus on emerging talents once more.

D4vd will be NME’s cover star for the print return (Picture: NME)
Previous cover stars have included Oasis, Taylor Swift and Rihanna (Picture: Steve Meddle/Rex/Shutterstock)

‘Print has always been a cornerstone of the NME brand, and we are thrilled to announce the return of an icon,’said Holly Bishop, the Networks’ Chief Operating & Commercial Officer.

‘Our new global magazine will curate the very best of NME; championing emerging artists and bands and serving as the definitive voice in pop culture.’

The cultural impact of the magazine is immeasurable, engaging with political issues as well as breaking stories such as the loss of

NME coined the phrase Britpop as Blur broke through with Parklife and featured numerous artists who would later skyrocket in fame – including Duran Duran, Manic Street Preachers, and The Libertines.

Over the years NME reinvented itself to varying success, split between traditional indie-rock roots and emerging hip-hop talent in the 1980s.

In a radical move in 2015, the music publication decided to remove its cover charge, featuring Rihanna on the cover for this new era.

While some artists may have had disagreements with NME over the years, notably Morrissey who did not speak to the journalists for 12 years, the legacy of NME is unmatched.

The print editions will be bi-monthly (Picture: NME)
NME first debuted in print in 1952(Picture: Georgia Ocallaghan/Rex/Shutterstock)
The British publication is a staple of the music industry(Picture: Steve Meddle/Rex/Shutterstock)

For the return issue, it appears that American artist d4vd will take the cover at just 18 years old.

The rising star has had international chart success with hits Romantic Homicide and Here with Me.

Group Chief Executive Officer & Founder of parent company Caldecott Music Group, Meng Ru Kuok added: ‘NME has never reached more people than it does today, and we’re excited to embrace our legacy, giving emerging artists the recognition and exposure they truly deserve while creating new synergies and opportunities for both talent and fans.’

NME’s July and August issue will be available from Wednesday, August 9, through , with some limited drops in artists’ stores, record stores, and select partners.

Anyone hoping to grab a copy can sign up for extra information through NME’s .