Krissi Murison

July 2009 saw the making of music media history as music bible, NME, named Krissi Murison as Conor McNicholas’ successor. She is the first female to become the magazine’s Editor In Chief in the publication’s entire fifty seven year history.

Born in 1982, Krissi Murison attended The Abbey School, Reading, between 1993 and 2000, before studying at Bristol University to obtain her degree in English Literature.  Krissi edited the student newspaper, Epigram, while at University.

Joining NME as a Staff Writer in 2003, Krissi made Editor In Chief in just six years.  Krissi took a seven month break from NME when she worked for New York-based magazine, Nylon, which specialises in pop culture and fashion.

In her first few months as Editor, Krissi has completely revolutionized the magazine, even changing it’s famous logo. And, albeit controversially, Krissi featured pop mogul, Simon Cowell, on December 2009’s Christmas cover as, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. A brave move putting a figure associated with ready-made pop bands on the coveted cover, especially at a time when disgust and resentment of Cowell’s reality TV show, The X Factor was at an all time high, with Rage Against The Machine determined to bag that year’s Christmas Number One – a battle which they later won.

Krissi Murison’s genuine passion for music makes her ideal for NME and a welcome change to UK Music.  She has helped steer music-lovers in this country in the direction of bands we already know and love, as well as upcoming bands with something new and exciting to offer us. Her fearless approach and confidence in her capabilities make her a promising Editor, who is destined to bring wonderful things and breath new life into NME and our British Music Scene.

Daydreaming of writing for a major music magazine since my very early teens, practising interviewing some of the world’s most important bands using my hairbrush as a microphone, and thriving on the thrill of discovering new and exciting bands, you can understand why Krissi has become such an important role model in my professional life.

Krissi Murison is an inspiration to me, and thousands of young women like me.

Becoming the first female NME Editor in 57 years, Krissi has not only smashed through the “glass ceiling” of male-dominated music media, but she has, inadvertantly, paved the way for millions of young women, like myself, whose goal is Editor In Chief – she has made something, which once seemed impossible, VERY possible.