NME is going to print the final edition of its weekly music magazine on Friday, its publisher has announced.

The publication is going to focus on its online offering instead, and plans to launch "several digital services" to expand its audience.

NME, which has been in print for 66 years, became a free weekly publication in 2015 - and was handed out at train stations, universities and shops across the UK.

But Time Inc, the magazine's owner, said it was "no longer financially viable" to run a print edition.

Before becoming free, NME had a cover price of £2.50.


Image: The Libertines are among the bands paying tribute to NME for its impact

Paul Cheal, the group's managing director of music, said: "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's website launched 21 years ago, and it has a social media reach of 200 million a month.

The company still plans to publish special issues in print.

Very sorry to hear about the @NME issuing its last print edition. Love to all the writers there who’ve helped us over the years, and to all of you that picked up a copy. Blessed to have had you in our corner. pic.twitter.com/EzZ7cvCaYQ — Libertines (@libertines) March 7, 2018

Bands have paid tribute to NME's contribution to the music industry, with The Libertines tweeting: "Very sorry to hear about the @NME issuing its last print edition.

"Love to all the writers there who've helped us over the years, and to all of you that picked up a copy. Blessed to have had you in our corner."

Swim Deep frontman Austin Williams, tweeted: "Me and the pals teenage bedroom wals were covered in ripped out pages from the NME.

"And then to be in it ourselves was the dream come true."

me and the pals teenage bedroom walls were covered in ripped out pages from the @NME. And then to be in it ourselves was the dream come true. Glad we had that dream. Now it's someone elses turn to shine the light on the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thanks NME, love you/hate you — austin williams (@austinwilliamsw) March 7, 2018

Warrington band Man and the Echo tweeted that it was a "sad end to NME" and getting column spae when they were first signed was "exhilerating".

BBC introducing artist Alex Maxwell wrote: "No way! I didn't even get in2 guitar music til I was 16 + that was down to buying the weekly NME magazine every weds lunch time at school!"

Darlington-based music lover Paul Haitch, tweeted: "Late 70s/early 80s the teenage me would buy NME, Sounds and Melody MAker mid-week, and pore over all the pages, even the ads for dodgy clothes.

"Another part of my life gone now. The internet has been such a game-changer