NME goes free, adds game coverage
UK music magazine will be distributed at universities, shops and stations
British music magazine NME will expand its coverage to include videogames as it becomes a free publication, parent company Time Inc UK announced today.
"This famous 63 year-old brand was an early leader in digital and has been growing its global audience successfully for the best part of 20 years. It has been able to do so because music is such an important passion and now is the right time to invest in bringing NME to an even bigger community for our commercial partners," said Time Inc UK CEO Marcus Rich.
Over 300,000 copies will of the weekly magazine will be handed out at UK stations, universities and retail partners. As well as games it has also added film, fashion, television, politics and technology to its remit.
"NME is already a major player and massive influencer in the music space, but with this transformation we'll be bigger, stronger and more influential than ever before," added editor Mike Williams.
"Every media brand is on a journey into a digital future. That doesn't mean leaving print behind, but it does mean that print has to change, so I'm incredibly excited by the role it will now play as part of the new NME. The future is an exciting place, and NME just kicked the door down."