Time Inc UK’s music magazine NME has relaunched as a free weekly magazine with record breaking advertising revenues and a world exclusive interview with Rihanna.
The first free print issue of NME has generated the biggest advertising revenue in 15 years and features five times the volume of advertising compared with the corresponding issue last year.
The new editorial content mix and distribution model has proven attractive to commercial partners, with advertising secured across a broad range of categories including motoring, tech, fashion, film and music. Among the advertisers in the first issue are Hunter, L’Oréal, P&G, eBay, Google Play, Universal Pictures, JVC Headphones, Renault and BMW Mini.
Global artist Rihanna is featured on the front cover, wearing a t-shirt with the word “free” emblazoned across it.
Paul Cheal, managing director of Innovation, Time Inc. UK says: “We are launching an exciting new NME magazine with great commercial appeal into the free market with the benefit of it already being an iconic media brand. The launch cover star speaks volumes about NME’s access to the biggest artists in the world.”
Free digital editions of the magazine will also be available for download and readers can continue to subscribe to the print edition, with a small charge added to cover postage and packaging.