The changes are revealed in the IPC music weekly this week, which carries ten different covers featuring stars Jack White, Rihanna, Kasabian, Foals, MIA, Magnetic Man, Florence + the Machine, LCD Soundsystem, Laura Marling and Biffy Clyro.
The overhaul is the first major change to the title under its first female editor Krissi Murison, who took up the role in July last year. The title has suffered large circulation falls, dropping 20.6% year on year to 38,486 copies in the July to December period last year.
Changes include a new front section with a feature called the 'Main Event’ which investigates the week's top news story.
There will be weekly 'Talking Head' comment pieces from musicians and NME writers. Other new regular features are 'First Night, On The Road' and 'In the Studio' which report on major tours and upcoming albums.
NME's new music section 'Radar' will be overhauled to add more band news and live reports. The section will also feature regular high profile columnists including Tim Westwood, Simian Mobile Disco and Mary-Anne Hobbs.
Krissi Murison said: "When I took this role I had very clear ideas about what I wanted to do with the magazine. The new NME is significantly different, with a much more mature and aspirational design, and content which focuses on being in-depth, opinionated and above all knowledgeable.
"We listened carefully to what music fans want from their NME – and delivered a weekly must-have for anyone who is obsessed with music, regardless of age."
IPC is supporting the redesign with a print and online marketing campaign within IPC brands including Nuts, Loaded, Uncut, Now, Look and Marie Claire as well as on NME TV and NME Radio.
The campaign will also run in external media including The Independent, Time Out, and AMG Music Academy venues.
