Vinyl editions of the main series ended in 1996 with Now That's What I Call Music! 35, [15] though spin-offs like NOW presents the 70s was being released as a five LP vinyl boxset by Sony/EMI in 2021. [16] Following its introduction in China, the Now! series has enjoyed great success, with a new compilation released approximately every three to four months. Each album contains current and recent hit singles from Chinese artists signed to EMI or Polydor, and from British and Australian pop acts such as Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Sugababes or Robbie Williams. Dee, Johnny (8 August 2008). "Compilation series NOW That's What I Call Music! is 25 years olf". The Guardian . Retrieved 2 July 2018. Soulfood Music. Produced and mixed for Soulfood Productions. ℗ 2001 Relentless Records Ltd. Licensed courtesy of Relentless Records/Ministry of Sound Recordings. Sisario, Ben (10 May 2010). "Bob Mercer, Executive Who Signed the Sex Pistols, Dies at 65". New York Times.

The first installment of the product line into Canada was released in 1988. The second installment of the product line was released in 1995. Beginning with the second installment of the series, repertoire was licensed from Universal, Warner and EMI. Songs from Sony and BMG was not included on any editions of the series in Canada. Since the second installment of the series, Universal, Warner and EMI have formed a joint venture together and generally take turns to release the series. From the years of 1996 to 2009 the series released an annual compilation usually in the late summer months. However, beginning with Now 15, there have been two editions each year which usually take place in early winter and late summer. Warner Chappell Music Publishing Ltd. ℗2001 EMI Records Ltd. Licensed courtesy of EMI Commercial Markets. Now That's What I Call Music! has released 61 physical albums since 1997, the latest one released July 2020 and further albums were released on streaming platforms only. The series is compiled in co-ordination with New Zealand's top record companies. The series is one of the highest selling compilations in New Zealand music history ( RIANZ) with multi-platinum album sales. Prior to this, there was an unrelated Now That's What I Call Music Series by Warner Bros. Records which only released three albums from 1992 to 1993.

Release

Due to the Universal Music Group's purchasing of EMI in 2012, a share of the Now albums' rights were transferred over to Sony Music Entertainment (a partner in the original Hits Album brand). [25] UMG used the brand of their catalogue subsidiary Universal Music TV ( UMOD) on the series before reverting to the EMI brand by the 2020s on some of the Now spin-offs [20] like Now Yearbook ’83 Extra, [26] Now That’s What I Call Christmas [27] and the re-issued Now That’s What I Call Music 10. [28] [29]

Now Music is a Danish record label set up especially to release Now That's What I Call Music! albums in Denmark reaching the nineteenth edition in November 2007 not making anymore after that. As well as the Now regular series there have also been spin-offs including Now Big Hits, Now Christmas, Now Summer, Now Clubbing, Now Dance and Now Hip Hop. Wappler, Margaret (13 November 2011). "Music doesn't get more current than 'Now' ". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 28 May 2012. Although the albums started out on only vinyl records and cassette tapes, the formats on which the albums have been released have changed over the years: Chase Muzic/Hitco South administeredby Music Of Windswept/Sony/ATV Tunes LLC o/b/o itself and Beyonce Publishing/MWP Publishing. ℗2001 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. Licensed courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. Collectively, the Now! compilations have sold extremely well in the U.S. Each of the first 29 volumes received at least a platinum certification, and 18 albums from the series have reached number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart, more than any individual recording artist except the Beatles. [36] However, recent releases have not sold as well, with Now That's What I Call Music! 77 selling only an estimated 7,500 copies in its first week, compared to the 621,000 copies Now! 7 sold in its debut week in July 2001. [37]I’m beginning to suspect that T-Pain has a problem interpreting the messages sent to him by various strippers. “I’m ’n Luv (wit a Stripper),” which appears on Now 22, is not the only song in which T-Pain documents his unrequited love for a stripper. The subject of “I Can’t Believe It,” whom T-Pain reportedly puts in a mansion somewhere in Wiscansin, is intimated to be a dancer. There’s also the song “Bartender,” and while it’s never specified whether this bartender is working at a strip club or just a regular bar, the dynamics of a relationship between a patron and a bartender and that of a patron and a stripper are similar enough to conclude that T-Pain has once again misinterpreted “working for tips” to mean “true love.” He and Wyclef Jean need to talk about this in group. 34. Now That’s What I Call Music! 57 This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( March 2022) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Keepin It Real How Bout' You/Warner Chappell Music/EMI April Music Inc/Future Furniture (ASCAP). ℗2001 Polydor Ltd (UK). Licensed from Universal Music Licensing Division. In France the Now series is called Now! Hits Référence. There have been released Now! Hits Référence 1-7 and Now! Hits Référence 2005, 2006 and 2007.