Draft:Maurice Kinn

Maurice Kinn (2 June 1924 – 3 August 2000) was a British music publisher and journalist. He was proprietor of the New Musical Express (NME) from 1952 to 1963, during which time the paper became one of the UK’s leading music publications [2]. He is credited with introducing the first UK singles chart based on record sales [2] and promoting the NME Poll Winners’ Concerts, which featured leading popular music acts of the period, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones [6].

Early life and career

Kinn was born in Limehouse, London, in 1924 [5]. He attended Kent Coast College but left at the age of 14 [5]. He then worked part-time at Dreamland amusement park in Margate, where his parents ran a boarding house [5]. Kinn began his career as a junior reporter at the Boxing Times [5] before moving into music promotion. By the late 1940s and early 1950s he was organising dances and concerts at UK dance halls [2].

In 1951 he started his own agency representing bandleaders including Ambrose, Ivy Benson, Joe Loss, and Cyril Stapleton [2].

Acquisition of the New Musical Express

In late 1952, Kinn was informed by Les Perrin, news editor of the music paper Musical Express, that the publication was likely to close unless a buyer was found [2]. At the time, circulation was around 15,000 [2]. Kinn purchased the title for £1,000 (about £25,000 in 2025 values) [2], renamed it the New Musical Express (NME), and became owner [1][2].

Development of the NME and UK charts

Initially, the paper was unprofitable and Kinn continued running his agency to support it [2]. Two months after acquiring the NME, he borrowed £1,000 from his father-in-law to keep it afloat [2].

The NME’s chart at the time was based on sheet music sales. Kinn directed advertising manager Percy Dickins to gather weekly sales figures from record shops to create a chart based on record sales [2]. He also shifted editorial focus toward popular vocal artists of the period, such as Johnnie Ray, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole, moving away from big band coverage [2].

Kinn used promotional tactics such as distributing free copies of the paper outside dance halls and advertising on Radio Luxembourg [2]. In 1953 he introduced a readers’ poll, which led to the first NME Poll Winners’ Concert, staged at the Royal Albert Hall [2]. Circulation subsequently rose to around 100,000 per week [2].

During the 1950s the NME promoted visiting American artists including Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Stan Kenton, and Mel Tormé [2]. The Billie Holiday appearance was her only UK performance [2]. Kinn was involved in lifting a 25-year ban on exchanges between UK and US musicians, staging a six-week Kenton tour with promoter Harold Davison, followed by a US tour by Ted Heath [2].

Journalism and notable coverage

Kinn invited high-profile entertainers such as Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Doris Day, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin to contribute articles to the NME [2]. He covered one of Elvis Presley’s early concerts at Pearl Harbor and secured Presley’s first interview in a British newspaper [2].

Under the pseudonym “Alley Cat”, Kinn wrote a weekly gossip and opinion column noted by broadcaster David Frost as “the best of its kind” [6].

The NME was among the first British weeklies to cover rock and roll extensively. In 1956, it ran regular features on Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Bill Haley, Carl Perkins, and Gene Vincent [12]. In response to press reports linking rock and roll to youth disorder, Kinn wrote an editorial stating the disturbances were “the hooliganism of an undisciplined minority” [12].

NME Poll Winners’ Concerts

By the mid-1960s, the NME Poll Winners’ Concerts featured prominent acts including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Small Faces, the Yardbirds, Roy Orbison, Dusty Springfield, and Cliff Richard [2]. The 1968 concert included the Rolling Stones performing “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” live for the first time [2]. This was Brian Jones’ final live appearance with the group [2].

Relationship with the Beatles

The NME provided exclusive British coverage of the Beatles’ first US tour [4]. Kinn and his wife Berenice developed a friendship with manager Brian Epstein [4]. In 1964 they attended the band’s appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in Miami [4].

At the 1966 Poll Winners’ Concert, Kinn clashed with John Lennon and Epstein over the Beatles’ running order. According to Beatles ’66 by Steve Turner, Lennon told Kinn “We’ll never ever play for you again” [3]. The group did not perform another UK concert after this event [3].

In 1964, Kinn reportedly discussed purchasing Dick James’ shares in Northern Songs for £250,000, but the sale did not proceed [10].

Sale of the NME and later career

In 1963, IPC Media purchased the NME for £500,000 (about £9 million in 2025 values) [2], with Kinn remaining as executive director for ten years [2]. During his tenure, circulation rose from 15,000 in 1953 to over 350,000 in 1963, making it the UK’s biggest-selling weekly music paper [2].

After leaving the NME in 1973, Kinn attempted to buy Record Retailer and The Stage, but both deals fell through [7]. In retirement he ran a florist business [7], worked as a consultant to record companies [7], contributed to national newspapers [7], and promoted concerts, including shows by Status Quo, David Essex, and the Electric Light Orchestra [7].

Personal life and death

Kinn married Berenice in 1951 [5] and had two children, Rachel and Adam, and three grandchildren [5]. He was a lifelong Arsenal F.C. supporter [5] and a member of the MCC [5]. He was made a Freeman of the City of London in 1996 [8] and received a BASCA Gold Badge Award for contributions to the British entertainment industry [8].

He died of cancer on 3 August 2000 at the age of 76 and was buried in Edgwarebury Cemetery, London [5].

Legacy

Following Kinn’s death, NME editor Ben Knowles stated: “A lot of people owe Maurice Kinn a very great debt. Without his vision NME would not have become the legendary music title and incredible influence on music we have now been for 48 years” [15].

References

References 1. Gorman, Paul. In Their Own Write: Adventures in the Music Press. Sanctuary, 2001. 2. Long, Pat. The History of the NME. Portico, 2012. 3. Turner, Steve. Beatles ’66. Harper Collins, 2016. 4. Schreuders, Piet; Lewisohn, Mark; Smith, Adam. The Beatles’ London. Interlink, 2009. 5. Robin McGibbon. "Maurice Kinn obituary". The Independent. 17 August 2000. 6. Chris Hutchins. "Maurice Kinn obituary". The Guardian. 10 August 2000. 7. "Maurice Kinn obituary". The Times. August 2000. 9. Stuart Maconie. Story of the British Music Press. BBC Radio 2, 2005. 10. Steve Bradley. "The Beatles and the New Musical Express". Arrive Without Traveling blog. 17 May 2023. 11. "NME ‘Saviour’ Maurice Kinn Dies". Music Week. 19 August 2000. 12. NME issue. 21 September 1956. 13. NME issue. 17 March 1973. 14. NME issue8. John Martland. "Maurice Kinn obituary". The Stage. 17 August 2000. . 10 March 1973. 15. "Maurice Kinn – A Tribute". nme.com. 4 August 2000.

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