
Few publications carry the legacy of NME. Published weekly since 1952, its fortunes might have risen and fallen over the years, but like black cabs and red post boxes, it's become an institution you can rely on with a certain reassurance. After covering the swinging '60s, the paper really hit its stride in the mid-'70s, recruiting vital writers like Tony Parsons and Julie Burchill, and embracing the political stance of the punk movement. The '80s is considered a crucial NME period, reporting on the post punk and wave acts, as well as reggae, hip hop, r'n'b, soul, and the emerging dance scene. After riding the crest of Britpop through the '90s, the NME has shown great savvy and adaptability as the digital age progresses, embracing the internet with their website, daily blog, and online radio station. They picked up awards for Online Magazine Of The Year in 1999 and 2001, and their radio now broadcasts Monday to Friday 7am to 11pm on sattelite and DAB. Now under the helm of its first female editor, the future of publishing might never be certain, but the NME will be there to shape it. Red Bull Music Academy Radio has teamed up with them for the Academy in London, bringing people the acts and musicians that are saying something in 2010 and beyond.