NME Pop Poll Results 1952 -
1999
Some notes about the poll: From almost the time of its inception
in the early 50's, the NME has had an annual readers' poll. The early years reflected the
paper's original readership of musicians and songwriters; but once rock and roll had
arrived, the NME quickly became a pop fans' weekly bible and the poll emphasis changed
too, introducing categories which reflected the acts and records making the pop charts.
When the paper metamorphosed into a more serious rock weekly during the early 70s, the
poll changed once again, reintroducing sections (similar to those which had existed in the
early 50s) for players of individual Instruments, and giving attention to acts in the rock
album market.
Notes about particular categories:
Single of the year: until the early 70s restricted to British-recorded singles. In 1972
(Hawkwind-Silver Machine) and 1973 (Who-5.15) there were separate polls for UK and world
results. After that no restrictions. Vocal group: just "group" in recent years.
Best new group: Until '72 only for UK acts. In 1972 (Roxy Music UK winner), 1973 (Leo
Sayer) and 1975 (Bebop Deluxe) special sections for UK.
Big Thanks to Han vd Boogaardt for compiling these
lists.
1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966
1967 1968 1969 1970
1971 1972 1973 1974
1975 1976 1977 1978
1979 1980 1981
1982 1983 1984 1985 1986
1987 1988 1989 1990
1991 1992 1993 1994
1995 1996 1997
1998 1999
2000 2001
