New Size For NME As Title Reaches 50

IPC Ignite is to give music title NME a revamp including a new size and the introduction of a glossy cover, in time for the magazine’s 50th birthday.

The revamped birthday issue will go on sale on 20 April, priced at £1.50. The new format will see the title shrink to a size closer to standard magazine proportions, which IPC hopes will result in a better position on the news-stand. The cover will be glossy and eight extra editorial pages will be added.

The re-launch will be accompanied by extensive retail promotion in addition to promotional activity connected to the birthday celebration. The issue out on 13 April will be bagged with a free CD and Oasis poster, of which 50 will be signed by the band.

The NME’s fortunes have been varied over the years, often dependent on the popularity of the guitar-based music it is most associated with. The end of 2000 saw the demise of another long established music title, Melody Maker (see IPC To Close Melody Maker), but NME has battled on, partly due to diversifying with a website: www.nme.coma and the launch last year of an online radio station (see IPC Ignite To Launch NME Radio). The latest set of ABC figures showed a 0.6% year on year increase in circulation for the title (see ABC Jul – Dec 2001 Music Titles), but overall IPC will doubtless hope that the new look will help reverse the decline seen in the last five years.

IPC Media: 0870 4445000 www.ipc.co.uk

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