MUMBAI: NME magazine, launched as New Musical Express in 1952, will be free from this September, it was announced on Monday, 6 July. The cover price of £2.50 will be waived and three lakh copies will be distributed nationally through stations, universities and retail partners.

In 2012, it was stated that NME reported a year-on-year circulation fall of 17.6 per cent to record an average circulation of 23,924, which was a continuation of a longstanding decline at the title. Four years before that, in 2008, the printed issue of NME reported a circulation of 56,284, more than double its numbers in 2012.

Addressing the same, NME editor Mike Williams stated in an open letter, “The cat is out of the bag, and I could not be more excited. For the past few months we have been working in secret here at NME on the next phase of our evolution. The goal, throughout all of our research and development, has been to find new and inventive ways to connect with you, our audience, better than ever. In the 63 years since NME launched we have evolved and transformed plenty of times. The evolution of 2015 is our boldest ever move, and I am delighted to be able to share the news with you at last."

In the open letter, Williams also stated that NME will dramatically increase its content output and range, with new original as well as curated content appearing across all platforms, including print. Other highlights will include an expansion in live events, more video franchises and greater engagement with users on new social platforms. Along with free distribution, the NME website will be given a digital make-over and there will also be “some shiny new digital products which I’ll be able to tell you more about very soon,” stated Williams.

Since its launch almost six decades ago, NME magazine has provided weekly music news, reviews and features. When the NME website launched in 1996, it became the world's first music news website. Currently, according to the statement, through NME's digital platforms, social media channels and weekly magazine, the brand reaches 3.9 million people every week.

The new free magazine launches on 18 September in the UK.