(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) —
NOW That's What I Call Music! Volume 20 has debuted at the top of the Billboard Top 200 chart for the eighth time in the series' history with first week sales of more than 378,000 units. Fueled by the tremendous first week sales of Volume 20, the complete NOW series–the most consistent multi-platinum-selling music brand today–has achieved US sales of more than 53 million units to become the most successful multi-artist series of all time.
NOW is an unprecedented cooperative project between EMI Music, The Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment and the Zomba Group of labels. Since it was introduced in the United States seven years ago, the series has been known as a harbinger of contemporary tastes and a reflection of the most popular music of the day. Nearly every single CD in the NOW That's What I Call Music series has been certified platinum or multi-platinum, and NOW remains the most successful branded compilation ever launched in the music business with continual massive chart and sales successes.
"We are delighted with the performance of NOW 20," said Universal Music Enterprises SVP Bob Mercer. "To continue to achieve these kind of first week numbers only demonstrates the ongoing strength of the brand and its ability to generate store traffic. Looking forward to the next 20."
"The NOW brand is stronger than ever and its success is a testament to the public's demand for hitsDavi," said David Munns, chairman and CEO EMI Music North America.
"Consumers trust the NOW franchise as a one-stop shop for all of their favorite music," said Joe DiMuro, executive VP and general manager of the Sony BMG Strategic Marketing Group. "This week's tremendous sales are a testament to the strength of the brand."
Featuring 20 chart-topping hits such as, NOW That's What I Call Music, Volume 20 includes 12 tracks in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, 6 tracks in the Top 30 and 2 tracks in the Top 10 including such hits as Bow Wow Feat. Ciara's "Like You", Missy Elliott's "Lose Control", Rihanna's "Pon De Reply", Franz Ferdinand's "Do You Want to" and Coldplay's "Fix You", NOW 20 features the top hit singles, regardless of genre.
The series debuted in the United States in 1998 after the NOW brand had been an enormous, multi-platinum international success for nearly 20 years with some 62 volumes featuring pop hits released in the UK alone. To date, the NOW series has generated sales of 142 million albums worldwide. Every album in the US NOW series has reached the Billboard Top 10 and eight have now debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, making NOW the only non-soundtrack, multi-artist collection to occupy the top spot on this distinguished album sales chart.
NOW 4 became the first of its kind to debut at #1 in July of 2000. NOW 6 (March 2001), NOW 7 (July 2001) and NOW 9 (April 2002) also achieved #1 debut status. The week of December 8, 2001 marked the first time two albums in one series were simultaneous Top 5 hits, When NOW That's What I Call Music, Volume 8! debuted at #2 and the two CD set, NOW That's What I Call Christmas! soared to #3 in the Billboard Top 200 Chart. More recently, NOW 16 debuted at #1 in July 2004, NOW 17 debuted at #1 in November 2004 and NOW 19 debuted at #1 in July of 2005 is still in the Billboard Top 200 with sales nearing 2 million.
NOW discography:
NOW 1 (October 1998, certified platinum)
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NOW 2 (July 1999, certified double platinum)
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NOW 3 (December 1999, certified double platinum)
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NOW 4 (July 2000, the first compilation ever to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified double platinum)
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NOW 5 (November 2000, certified quadruple platinum)
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NOW 6 (April 2001, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified triple platinum)
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NOW 7 (July 2001, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified triple platinum)
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NOW 8 (November 2001, certified triple platinum)
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NOW 9 (April 2002, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified double platinum)
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NOW 10 (July 2002, certified platinum)
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NOW 11 (November 2002, certified double platinum)
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NOW 12 (March 2003, certified platinum)
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NOW 13 (July 2003, certified platinum)
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NOW 14 (April 2004, certified triple platinum)
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NOW 15 (May 2004, certified double platinum)
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NOW 16 (July 2004, certified triple platinum)
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NOW 17 (November 2004, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified double platinum)
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NOW 18 (March 2005, certified platinum)
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NOW 19 (July 2005, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified double platinum)
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NOW That's What I Call Christmas! (October 2001, certified quintuple platinum)
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NOW That's What I Call Christmas! The Signature Collection (September
2003,
certified
double
platinum)
NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! VOL. 20 (track listing):
1 Lose Control / Missy Elliott feat. Ciara and Fat Man Scoop
2 Don't Phunk With My Heart / Black Eyed Peas
3 Don't Cha / The Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes
4 Pon De Replay / Rihanna
5 Pimpin' All Over The World / Ludacris feat. Bobby Valentino
6 Like You / Bow Wow feat. Ciara
7 I Think They Like Me / Dem Franchize Boyz feat. Jermaine
Dupri, Da Brat & Bow Wow
8 Cater 2 U / Destiny's Child
9 Must Be Nice / Lyfe Jennings
10 These Words (I Love You, I Love You) / Natasha Bedingfield
11 Behind These Hazel Eyes / Kelly Clarkson
12 Listen to Your Heart / DHT feat. Edmee
13 Just Want You to Know / Backstreet Boys
14 Just the Girl / The Click Five
15 Do You Want To / Franz Ferdinand
16 Beverly Hills / Weezer
17 Sugar, We're Goin' Down / Fall Out Boy
18 You & Me / Lifehouse
19 Fix You / Coldplay
20 You'll Think of Me / Keith Urban
–Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
