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Ranked: All 50 'Now That's What I Call Music!' Compilations

Now13USA

Now_44_US_album_cover

Now_That's_What_I_Call_Music!_42_USA

Now_That's_What_I_Call_Music_33

Now_28_USA

Now18_USA

Now_That's_What_I_Call_Music!_27_(U.S._series)_

USNow26cover

Now_30_us

Now_That's_What_I_Call_Music!_36_(U.S._series)

Now_32_(US_Series)

Now19_USA

Now17USA

Now15USA

Now40us

Now_That's_What_I_Call_Music_41_USA

Now_That's_What_I_Call_Music!_34

Now_That's_What_I_Call_Music!_29_US_album_cover

Now8USA

Now16USA

Now_Music_Vol._22

Now_21_USA

Now_That's_What_I_Call_Music!_35

Now12USA

Now_5_USA

Now_Thats_Music!_39_(US_series)

Now_6_USA

Now24

600px-Now_That's_What_I_Call_Music_41_USA_artwork

Now10USA

Now_7_USA

Now_45_US_album_cover

Now_20_USA

Now_25

Now_49_us_album_cover

Now_9_USA

Now_That's_What_I_Call_Music!_43

Now14USA

Now_23_USA

Now_music_48_2013_us_series

Now_That's_What_I_Call_Music!_37

Now31-US

NOW_46_US_album_cover

Now11USA

Now_3_US

Now_1_US

Now_Thats_Music_47_US_series

Now_4_US

Now_That's_What_I_Call_Music_50_(2014_US).jpeg

Now_2_US

In 1998, "As Seen on TV" compilation albums received an unexpected makeover. Instead of a mix of classics from the '80s, smooth R&B jams or the Motown's aging hits, Universal Music Enterprises offered fans something more fresh and of the moment: Now That's What I Call Music! Just before the release of the iPod, mixed CDs represented a way fans could listen to all the hits without all the filler. Thanks to Now, those who couldn't burn their own mixes could just pick up one for $15.99. And as music tastes and the way fans consumed music evolved, so did the compilations. They managed to capture the trends of that year, highlighting some of the best (and worst) in popular music. Sixteen years later, the 50th edition of the compilation is hitting stores on May 6. In honor of that landmark achievement, VH1 ranked all 50 compilations from the very worst to the very best.

Among the list are artists that have become staples since graduating out of the TRL era. Pink practically appears on every compilation, while Britney Spears, checks in every few years with a hit or two. Then on the other side of the spectrum are the one-hit wonders that managed to creep their way in. Artists like Semisonic, soulDecision and Anna Nalick will always be preserved on these compilations—serving a testament to their time and place in pop music.

Thanks to recent editions, even newcomer Lorde has found herself on the compilations. Given how quickly they are churned out, it should be no surprise that they knew she was a hit before she was:

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