Meer is a former commissioning features editor for now defunct Ministry magazine and former news editor at Emap's Mixmag. He took over the editorship of Muzik from McNicholas, who stepped up to edit the NME in June 2002. He has also freelanced across radio and national newspapers.
Meer has been working at IPC on development projects for the publisher after Muzik was closed in July.
McNicholas described Meer as having "top-notch music credentials".
"Malik is an immensely talented magazine professional and I'm very much looking forward to him applying those talents to the NME, McNicholas said. "He is not only a dedicated music fan, he is a passionate writer and editor and is the perfect addition to the NME editorial line-up."
In his new role, Meer will be charged with developing and writing NME's features, giving them a funny, original and opinionated style.
Meer said he was thrilled to be joining the title. He said: "I've got loads of ideas that I can't wait to put into practice, which I know NME readers will love."
McNicholas said: "He's the final piece in the new NME editorial line-up and confirms the magazine as having the best editorial team of any modern music title in the country."
Since he took over as editor at NME, McNicholas has instigated a relaunch of the title and oversaw the reclamation of its place as the number one music weekly. Last month, he promoted associate editor Alex Needham to deputy editor.
The NME recently won back its crown in the weekly magazine sector from rival Kerrang!. The Emap title had overtaken NME when it capitalised on the short-lived love affair among Britain's youth with nu-metal bands such as Puddle of Mudd, which has since waned.
In the last set of ABCs for the January to June 2003 period, NME posted a circulation of 72,443, down 1.2% on the previous period, but up 0.5% on the same period in 2002.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
_1.jpg)
.jpg)
