The weekly title, which lost its number one weekly music magazine spot in February 2002 to rival Emap's Kerrang!, is using coverage and tie-ins with high-profile summer music events in an effort to boost sales and win back readers.
During the next four weeks, the magazine will carry extra supplements, giveaways, a festival survival pack and finally a review of the UK's infamous Glastonbury Festival.
The first issue, which is on sale this week, is a bagged issue featuring a 28-page glossy supplement celebrating the most memorable performances from past festivals. The title, called 50 Greatest Festival Photos includes Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, the White Stripes and The Beatles.
For the following week's issue, the NME will carry a special feature on Eminem, Dr Dre and 50 Cent, who are pictured together promoting their gigs at Milton Keynes on June 21-23 as part of their Anger Management tour.
The third issue is the Glastonbury preview issue featuring a 28-page 'Festival Guide 2003', which will be packed full of festival-related advice as well as a free Go-Co chocolate energy bar, Durex Performa condoms and vouchers for money off food, drink, tents and blankets among other festival essentials.
The fourth issue, which will not count toward the current January to June ABC reporting period, will be published on July 5. It will carry a review of Glastonbury, featuring glossy posters from the festival, just days after the event.
Neil Robinson, publishing director of IPC Ignite, the men's and music division, said: "This year has seen a huge rush in ticket sales for the summer festivals and NME is at the heart of this live music buzz. Putting out this run of special issues is great for NME readers and the start of an exciting summer season for the UK's favorite music magazine."
The NME was sensationally knocked off the number one spot in 2002 by Kerrang! when its circulation soared by an incredible 63.5% year on year to 76,841. The former greasy metaller's title expanded its remit to cover the increasingly popular skate-punk and nu-metal bands such as Limp Bizkit, Sum 41, Blink 182 and Linkin Park.
In the last set of ABCs for the July to December 2002 period, there was good news for both titles. Kerrang! continued to top of the weekly market with a circulation of 84,173, while the NME appeared to recover under new editor Conor McNicholas and gained ground on Kerrang!, rising 1.8% to 73,338.
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