NME, the British-based weekly music magazine, will launch a dedicated Irish edition from October 18th.
The expansion into Ireland represents the first international edition of the magazine and it was preceded by a sample edition, which was distributed throughout the country yesterday.
The publishers promise a focus on the Irish live music scene with features, profiles, gig listings and live reviews, while it will also contain a mix of news from the UK and international music scene. The first edition of NME Ireland will be dated October 21st and will cost €2.95, the same price as present.
Content for the Irish edition will be provided by new NME Ireland correspondent Steve Cummins, who has been a regular contributor to NME, as well as The Irish Times and other papers.
"NME has always been a successful magazine in Ireland, but with such a vibrant live music scene and such passionate music lovers it would be madness not to provide the country with their own magazine," said NME editor Conor McNicholas.
The magazine will come into competition with established Irish music magazine Hot Press, but a spokesman for Hot Press said last night that they had a loyal readership and that he did not think it would unduly affect their readership figures.
The launch of NME Ireland coincides with the launch of Club NME, which will take place every first and third Thursday of the month.