NME 1 and NME 2 are two British radio stations operated under NME magazine branding, that broadcast an alternative music format. They were launched online in 2018 as successors of the original NME Radio,[1] which broadcast from 2008 to 2013.
The two NME channels are broadcast 24/7, with regular news bulletins and features. They can be heard online, via various radio playing services or through the NME website[2][3][4] and found on DAB with both stations broadcasting on local multiplexes in Norwich and Brighton, and with NME 1 broadcasting alongside sister service CDNX in London.[5][6]
Initial plans for an NME-branded radio station were revealed to the media in late 2007 by Sammy Jacob, creator of XFM, who left the station following its purchase by Global Radio.[7] The station began operating under licence soon after by DX Media, a company operated by Jacob.[8][9]
Broadcast from studios in the Blue Fin Building in South Bank, London, also home to IPC Media, NME Radio was launched on 24 June 2008 with its first track being "Knights of Cydonia" by British rock band Muse.[9][10] The presenting line-up at launch included Neil Cole and Claire Sturgess[11]
On Friday 11 June 2010, almost two years after its launch, The Guardian reported that NME Radio was to cease broadcasting on DAB digital radio, Sky, Virgin Media and Freesat platforms, and would revert to an online only "jukebox" format after DX Media had decided to end the agreement to operate the service.[12][13]
On 21 July 2010, IPC Media signed a new licence agreement with local radio group Town and Country Broadcasting.[14] NME Radio relaunched in September 2010 and returned to some regional digital audio broadcasting (DAB) multiplexes. The station returned to Freesat and Sky, where it was available until 5 December 2011. Following the new licensing agreement, operation sites were split between IPC Media's London HQ and Town and Country Broadcasting's station in south Wales, Nation Radio.
The Town and Country incarnation of the station ceased broadcasting on 25 March 2013 at midday.[15]
NME Radio relaunched in 2018 with two stations, NME 1 and NME 2,[16] taking over online from Sammy Jacob's Camden Xperience Radio channels (CDNX), which were operated on a trial basis, with the idea that CDNX would be relaunched at a later date[17] on DAB in the London area.[18][19][20]
Programming
Under the control of DX Media, NME Radio featured 16 hours of live broadcasting with a variety of presenters. Following the purchase of the stations by Town and Country Broadcasting, some daytime programmes were initially introduced.
Currently,
NME2 seems to have more of an orientation towards black music than does NME1.
