Magazine

Background
Information
Mikeyy Fisher
The New Musical Express (better known as the
NME) is a popular music magazine in the United
Kingdom which has been published weekly since
March 1952. It was the first British paper to include
a singles chart, which first appeared in the 14
November 1952 edition. The magazine's
commercial heyday was during the 1970s when it
became the best-selling British music magazine.
During the period 1972 to 1976 it was particularly
associated with gonzo journalism, then became
closely associated with punk rock through the
writing of Tony Parsons and Julie Burchill
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. The first number one was "Here In My
Heart" by Al Martino.