NME is going free from September: Musicians and readers react

6 July 2015

The NME is the UK's most famous music magazine - but from September it's going free to get more people reading it.

The weekly paper, which used to be called the New Musical Express, sells 15,000 copies.

The new plan will see 300,000 distributed at stations, shops and colleges around the UK.

NME editor Mike Williams said the move would transform the magazine, which was launched in 1952.

"NME is already a major player and massive influencer in the music space," he said.

"With this transformation we'll be bigger, stronger and more influential than ever before.

"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."

The free magazine will launch on 18 September.

Publisher Time Inc said music would stay "at the heart of the brand", but the magazine would also cover "film, fashion, television, politics, gaming and technology".

NME already publishes film and TV news on its website.

It's unclear whether subscribers will still get a weekly magazine in the post.