{{Infobox radio station | name = The Music Machine | logo = TMM logo.png | format = [[Alternative rock|Alternative]]/[[indie music]] | frequency = TMM 1: [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB+]]: 9A (London), 9C (Norwich)<br>TMM 2: DAB+: 9C (Norwich) | country = England | airdate = {{start date|df=y|2008|6|24}} (first iteration)<br>{{start date|df=y|2018|6|13}} (second iteration) | owner = The Music Machine Ltd. (Sammy Jacob) | affiliations = ''[[NME]]'' magazine (formerly) | former_names = NME Radio | sister_stations = [[Camden Market|CDNX]] | webcast = | website = [https://www.themusicmachine.co.uk/ themusicmachine.co.uk] }} '''The Music Machine''' ('''TMM''') is a pair of British radio stations that broadcast an [[alternative music]] format. It is owned and operated by Sammy Jacob,<ref>{{Cite web |title=THE MUSIC MACHINE LTD people - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07054846/officers |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> founder of the original [[Radio X (United Kingdom)|XFM]]. The station dates back to '''NME Radio''' which broadcast from 2008 to 2013 under branding of the popular music publication ''[[NME]]''. It relaunched in 2018 under ''NME'' branding before renaming to TMM in 2023.
The two channels, TMM 1 and TMM 2, are broadcast 24/7<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2021 |title=NME Radio Roundup 14 June 2021: Lorde, Pa Salieu, Clairo & Japanese Breakfast |url=https://www.nme.com/features/radio-roundup-14-june-2021-lorde-pa-salieu-clairo-japanese-breakfast-2969182 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref> and can be received online via [[TuneIn]] or through the TMM website, and on [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]] locally in Norwich and in parts of London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DAB Ensembles WorldWide {{!}} UK Local & Small-Scale |url=https://www.wohnort.org/dab/ukloc.html |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=www.wohnort.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2018 |title=NME Radio: How to tune in, where to listen, and everything you need to know |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/nme-audio-everything-you-need-to-know-2333385 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref><ref>cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/can-now-listen-nme-audio-dab-radio-london-2383198</ref>
== History == [[File:Reading festival radio 1 tent 2005.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[BBC Radio 1|Radio 1]]/''NME'' tent at the 2005 [[Reading Festival]]]] 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/xfm-co-founder-to-launch-nme-radio/036608|title=Xfm co-founder to launch NME Radio|work=Music Week}}</ref> The station began operating under licence soon after by DX Media, a company operated by Jacob,<ref>{{cite news |author=Sophie Morris |title=My Life In Media: Sammy Jacob |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/my-life-in-media-sammy-jacob-842666.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/my-life-in-media-sammy-jacob-842666.html |archive-date=2022-06-18 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=[[The Independent]] |date=9 June 2008 |accessdate=2008-10-06}}</ref><ref name=Plunkett>{{cite news |author=John Plunkett |title=NME Radio to go up against Xfm |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/sep/24/commercialradio.ipc |work=[[Guardian Unlimited]] |date=24 September 2008 |accessdate=2008-10-05 | location=London}}</ref> launching on 24 June 2008 with its first track being "[[Knights of Cydonia]]" by British rock band [[Muse (band)|Muse]].<ref name="Plunkett" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/nme-radio/37562 |title=Muse song first ever played on NME Radio |publisher=NME Radio |accessdate=2008-10-06}}</ref> The presenting line-up at launch included [[Neil Cole]] and [[Claire Sturgess]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/nme-radio-reveals-daytime-line-up/813446|title=NME Radio reveals daytime line-up|work=Campaign}}</ref> It was broadcast from studios in the Blue Fin Building in the [[South Bank]] of [[London]], also home to [[IPC Media]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=NME Radio to launch next year |url=|date=4 December 2007 |last=Brook |first=Stephen |website=The Guardian}}</ref>
[[File:NME Radio logo.png|thumb|NME Radio]] The station was initially only on [[Sky UK|Sky]], [[Virgin Media]] and [[Freesat]]. NME Radio then launched on 87.7 FM in [[Manchester]] temporarily in November and December 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-11-11 |title=NME launches in Manchester |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2008/11/nme-launches-in-manchester/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=RadioToday |language=en-GB}}</ref> It broadcast temporarily here again in May 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stokes |first=Paul |date=2009-05-04 |title=NME Radio on 87.7FM in Manchester from today |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/nme-radio-47-1306781 |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> At the same time it launched on [[DAB digital radio]] in the London region. On 22 December 2009, the station launched nationally on DAB joining the [[Digital One]] platform for an eight-month trial.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NME Radio goes national |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/dec/21/nme-radio-goes-national |date=21 December 2009 |last=Plunkett|first=John|website=The Guardian}}</ref> [[Alex Zane]], formerly of XFM, joined NME Radio on 30 April 2010 hosting a new Friday night show.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jul/21/nme-radio-town-and-country-broadcasting | title= Alex Zane joins NME Radio | work= The Guardian | date= 27 April 2010| location=London | first=John | last=Plunkett}}</ref>
On Friday 11 June 2010, almost two years after its launch, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that DX Media had decided to end the agreement with IPC Media (owner of ''NME'') to operate the service. As a consequence, NME Radio turned into an online only automated "[[jukebox]]" format and ceased broadcasting on DAB digital radio, Sky, Virgin Media and Freesat platforms.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.6003 | title= NME Radio To Leave DAB | publisher= Radio Today | date= 11 June 2010 | accessdate= 11 June 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100614025621/http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.6003 | archive-date= 14 June 2010 | url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10317346 | title= NME digital radio service pulled | publisher= BBC News | date= 15 June 2010 | accessdate= 15 June 2010}}</ref> Then on 21 July 2010, IPC Media signed a new licence agreement with local radio group [[Town and Country Broadcasting]].<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jul/21/nme-radio-town-and-country-broadcasting | title= NME Radio to bring back presenters | work= The Guardian | date= 21 July 2010 | accessdate= 22 July 2010 | location=London | first=John | last=Plunkett}}</ref> This led to the relaunch of NME Radio in September 2010 and it returned to some regional digital audio broadcasting (DAB) multiplexes in [[South Wales]] and also to Freesat and Sky, where it was available until 5 December 2011. Operation sites were split between IPC Media's London HQ and Town and Country Broadcasting's station in south Wales, [[Nation Radio]].
NME Radio, under Town and Country Broadcasting, unexpectedly ceased broadcasting on 25 March 2013 at midday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/nme-radio-comes-to-unexpected-end/054109|title=NME Radio comes to unexpected end|work=Music Week}}</ref> There was no official announcement and it took presenter Michelle Owen to break the news in a [[Twitter]] post that afternoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2013/03/sudden-end-for-digital-station-nme-radio/|title=Sudden end for digital station NME Radio|work=Radio Today}}</ref>
[[File:NME 1 2.jpg|thumb|NME 1 and 2]] NME Radio relaunched on 13 June 2018 with two stations, NME 1 and NME 2,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2018-06-15 |title=NME launches its two audio channels: NME 1 and NME 2 |website=[[NME]] |url=https://www.nme.com/news/nme-launches-two-audio-channels-nme-1-nme-2-2338134 |access-date=2025-03-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615052523/https://www.nme.com/news/nme-launches-two-audio-channels-nme-1-nme-2-2338134 |archive-date=15 June 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-15 |title=NME launches its two audio channels: NME 1 and NME 2 |website=[[NME]] |url=https://www.nme.com/news/nme-launches-two-audio-channels-nme-1-nme-2-2338134 |access-date=2025-03-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615052523/https://www.nme.com/news/nme-launches-two-audio-channels-nme-1-nme-2-2338134 |archive-date=15 June 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/nme-launches-two-audio-channels-nme-1-nme-2-2338134|title=NME launches two audio channels: NME 1 and NME 2|work=Music Week|date=13 June 2018 }}</ref> with Sammy Jacob returning to be the station manager.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2021/06/open-source-dab-encoder-in-use-on-london-small-scale-multiplex/|title=Open source DAB+ encoder in use on London small-scale multiplex|date=June 11, 2021}}</ref> The new NME stations took over online from Jacob's Camden Xperience Radio channels (CDNX), which were operated on a trial basis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.camdenmarket.com/journal/cdnx-radio|title=CDNX RADIO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/things-to-do/camden-market-radio-station-cdnx-helmed-by-xfm-founder-sammy-6540338|title=Xfm founder Sammy Jacob celebrates Camden's rich music heritage|first=Bridget|last=Galton|date=October 19, 2020|website=Hampstead Highgate Express}}</ref> NME 1 played "classics" while NME 2 played tracks of "the past decade".<ref name=":0"/>
Initially, the new NME radio stations were available on DAB in Norwich and Brighton (NME 1 only).<ref name=":0" /> NME 1 launched on DAB in London in September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DAB Ensembles Worldwide Archives 2018| url=https://www.wohnort.org/dab/archives18.html}}</ref> Meanwhile, CDNX returned to DAB in London on the same multiplex in January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DAB Ensembles Worldwide Archives 2020| url=https://www.wohnort.org/dab/archives20.html}}</ref>
In 2023, the contract with ''NME'' magazine was terminated and as a result, NME 1 and NME 2 were renamed TMM 1 and TMM 2, under Jacob's own The Music Machine branding. The change took effect on DAB in London on 10 December 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DAB Ensembles Worldwide {{!}} Archives 2023 |url=https://wohnort.org/dab/archives23.html |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=wohnort.org}}</ref>
== Programming and music styles == The first iteration of NME Radio when under the control of DX Media, the station featured a variety of presenters (many formerly of XFM), including [[Claire Sturgess]], [[Iain Baker]], [[Neil Cole]], [[Chris Martin]] and [[Ricky Gervais]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=NME Radio reveals daytime line-up |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/nme-radio-reveals-daytime-line-up/813446 |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=www.campaignlive.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> Its music was focused on modern indie alternative rock.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-07-21 |title=Town and Country save NME Radio |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2010/07/town-and-country-save-nme-radio/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=RadioToday |language=en-GB}}</ref> Following the takeover of operations by [[Town and Country Broadcasting]], some daytime programmes were initially introduced. Presenters included Chris Blumer and Ben Evans.<ref>{{Cite web| title=NME Radio launches new autumn schedule and app| website=[[NME]]| url=http://www.nme.com/news/nme-radio/52818| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904074517/http://www.nme.com/news/nme-radio/52818| archive-date=4 September 2010}}</ref>
The second iteration of NME Radio, now The Music Machine, is mainly a [[jukebox]]. According to the station, TMM 1 plays "classics from 60’s Garage and 90’s Grunge to 70’s Punk and 80’s New Wave" along with a selection of new music.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TMM 1 |url=https://tunein.com/radio/TMM-1-s159857/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=www.tunein.com |language=en}}</ref> TMM 2 on the other hand is described as playing new music covering "Indie to Electronic and Urban to Dance".<ref>{{Cite web |title=TMM 2 |url=https://tunein.com/radio/TMM-2-s155539/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=www.tunein.com |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://themusicmachine.co.uk Current TMM website]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 2008]] [[Category:Radio stations established in 2018]] [[Category:Internet radio stations in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:New Musical Express]] [[Category:2008 establishments in the United Kingdom]]