NME Asia: British music market launches in Asia

Iconic UK music brand NME has been launched in Asia, even though the entertainment industry is affected by the coronavirus.

NME says its new Singapore-based website will provide a fresh approach to the Southeast Asian music scene.

The company says it will initially focus on Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines and has plans to expand rapidly in the region.

The announcement comes at a time when many other media companies are making huge cuts due to the pandemic.

“Southeast Asia has a proud musical heritage. Whether it’s pop styles, traditional music or a wedding of the two, artists in the region have tickled the ears of audiences worldwide – and we’m glad they’ve their stories can tell, “Iliyas Ong, editorial board member of NME Asia said.

The company said its core editorial office in Singapore will manage a network of journalists across the region.

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Wednesday’s announcement comes after NME entered the Australian market at the end of last year.

NME has also recently resumed physical publishing with a monthly magazine in Australia, its only current regular printing press.

The move comes at a time when much of the global media sector is being forced to make significant cuts because it concerns the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Even though live events, tours and travels worldwide are on hiatus, there is still unusual creativity coming from this region that we want to highlight,” said Meng Ru Kuok, CEO of NME BandLab Technologies.

The NME itself has seen its fortunes change in recent years in the face of declining circulation and the shift from physical sales to online distribution across the music sector.

From its roots as a trade magazine for musicians, NME came up with a world-famous publication of music, before it was changed by changing consumer behavior.

The New Musical Express was first published in March 1952, later that year it became the first British newspaper with a single chart.

The world’s largest rock in the world

In the 1960s, NME was known for championships for the British bands that emerged at the time, including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

In the 1970s, the paper saw the end of the UK’s new music scene, including glam rock and punk.

Over the next three decades, the publication cemented its position as the world’s largest rock week and independent music bible.

But in 2015, dealing with falling sales, NME magazine was re-launched as a free publication.

Just three years later, NME announced that its printing would cease after 66 years and become an online offering.

In 2019, NME and Uncut magazine were sold to Singaporean music company BandLab Technologies.