For ordinary releases: use the number of that release (i.e. Now That's What I Call Music! 33 is number "33").

The idea for the series was conceived in the office of Virgin Records in Vernon Yard, near Portobello Road in Notting Hill, London, by the head of Licensing and Business Affairs at Virgin Records (1979–1990) Stephen Navin, and General Manager (1983–1988) Jon Webster. [2] The concept was taken to Simon Draper (managing director at Virgin Records) and then Peter Jamieson (managing director of EMI Records (1983–1986)). Jamieson had similar plans to launch such a compilation, and he agreed to the partnership. The deal was negotiated and finalised on Richard Branson's boat moored in Little Venice. [3] a b "About NOW That's What I Call Music". EMI Music. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013 . Retrieved 9 March 2012. By 1989, Now, Hits, and other various-artist compilation albums were occupying such a large fraction of the UK Albums Chart that a separate UK Compilation Chart was created to restrict the Albums Chart to releases by a single act. [7]For technical reasons, "Now That's What I Call Music! #1's" redirects here. For that album, see Now That's What I Call Music! Number 1's. 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] 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]

EMI were a label on all volumes. Until Now 75, the logo they used was simply the "EMI" logo. From that volume onwards, "EMI TV"'s logo was used instead. Merz, Theo (28 November 2013). "Now That's What I Call Trivia!". Telegraph . Retrieved 4 December 2015.In the Beginning, There was Ronco… | East of the M60". Mancunian1001.wordpress.com. 24 September 2010 . Retrieved 11 September 2013.

Wade, Ian (5 May 2020). "Hit By Hit: 30 Years Of Now That's What I Call Music". The Quietus . Retrieved 5 May 2020. Now 08 was the last of this series however a second series took over this time with seasons instead of volumes for example Now Winter 2005, Now Spring 2005. Now Summer 2014 was the last in the second series, on the third series the season was dropped and instead the year and volume is used for example Now 2014 Vol.1, Now 2019 Vol.1 was the last in the series. NOW Music is pleased to announce the latest addition to the numbered series – NOW That’s What I Call Music! 115 – Out 28 th July. In 2006 the Now Summer 2007 was the first double disc edition in the Australian series. In 1994, four albums were released, all with the title Now That's What I Call Music - 100% then Dance, Ballad, Rap or Alternate.

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The Australian series is a single disc edition and began in 2002, as a replacement for the long-running 100% Hits brand. The series is a joint venture between EMI Music Australia and Warner Music Australia. Volume one was released in 1984 (a year after the original UK series launched). Now 50, released in November 2008, was issued as a double CD in commemoration of 25 years of Now! albums in South Africa, and double compact discs are every 3 albums through Now 80 released in November 2018 as the series switched to 2 in 2019, then one in 2020, the most recent Now Album to include a double disc was Now 83 this was also the last physical album to be released as further volumes are only available on streaming platforms. As of 2 September 2005, there has also been a Now DVD series.

Wappler, Margaret (13 November 2011). "Music doesn't get more current than 'Now' ". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 28 May 2012.

MiniDiscs started with Now That's What I Call Music! 43 in 1999 and ended with Now That's What I Call Music! 48 in 2001. [17]