List of UK charts and number-one singles (1952–1969)/NME

This entry refers to a specific period in the history of UK music charts, covering the years 1952 to 1969. During this era, multiple competing charts existed, unlike the unified Official Charts Company (OCC) chart prevalent today. The "NME" designation signifies that the data provided represents information compiled and published by the New Musical Express (NME), a prominent British music magazine.

The NME was one of the earliest and most influential publishers of music charts in the UK. Its chart was considered a leading indicator of popular music trends and a key metric of success for recording artists. However, it's crucial to understand that the NME chart, while significant, was not the official chart during the entire 1952-1969 period. Other publications, such as Melody Maker and Disc, also compiled their own charts. Differences in methodology (e.g., sample sizes, geographical coverage, retail outlet weighting) often resulted in variations between these charts.

Therefore, a list designated as "List of UK charts and number-one singles (1952–1969)/NME" represents one particular version of the UK singles chart for that timeframe, specifically the one published by NME magazine. It's essential to acknowledge the existence of other contemporaneous charts when researching the musical landscape of this period and to avoid attributing "official" status to the NME chart unless contextually appropriate (e.g., "According to the NME chart, [artist] topped the charts in [year]"). The creation and publication of these charts was often subject to changes in methodology and data collection over the years, which could affect the accuracy of the data presented.