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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