NME to publish final print edition as magazine goes fully digital

NME is to print its final edition this Friday, publishers Time Inc have announced.

The long-running music magazine's print edition is "no longer financially viable", Time Inc's UK group managing director Paul Cheal said.

He added: "NME is one of the most iconic brands in British media and our move to free print has helped to propel the brand to its biggest ever audience on NME.com. The print re-invention has helped us to attract a range of cover stars that the previous paid-for magazine could only have dreamed of.

"At the same time, we have also faced increasing production costs and a very tough print advertising market. Unfortunately we have now reached a point where the free weekly magazine is no longer financially viable.

"It is in the digital space where effort and investment will focus to secure a strong future for this famous brand."

NME will continue to publish special issues in print, such as its new paid-for series NME Gold.