- WOW series
"WOW" is a series of annual
compilation album s featuringcontemporary Christian music . Originally simply called "WOW" immediately followed by the coming year, a change to "WOW Hits " followed by the coming year was made when the "WOW" brand was extended to include the additional collections mentioned below.Released in late 1995, "WOW 1996" was the first in the series and the first recording put together by the three major Christian
record companies of the time:Word Records (nowWord Entertainment ),Sparrow Records (now part ofEMI Christian Music Group ), andReunion Records (now part of Provident Music Group). Still today, after each submitting label agrees to a reduced master royalty, the final decision on the tracks to be included is made by committee; production, marketing, and distribution for the "WOW Hits" series is handled byEMI Christian Music Group .Compiling songs submitted by each partner label, the annual "WOW Hits" releases have been double
CD sets. Beginning with 2008, however, "WOW" is releasing three separate single-disc collections spread through each year rather than a two-disc collection toward the end of each year. In addition to "WOW Hits," which focuses on the most popular "lite" pop and pop-rock music, plans call for edgier single-disc "WOW Rock Hits" and "WOW Pop Hits" collections released twice a year.Released annually
WOW Hits
WOW Hits is the first series of the WOW collection [ [http://www.wowhits.com WOW Hits] ] . It contains the following albums:
*"
WOW 1996 "
*"WOW 1997 "
*"WOW 1998 "
*"WOW 1999 "
*"WOW 2000 "
*"WOW Hits 2001 "
*"WOW Hits 2002 "
*"WOW Hits 2003 "
*"WOW Hits 2004 "
*"WOW Hits 2005 "
*"WOW Hits 2006 "
*"WOW Hits 2007 "
*"WOW Hits 2008 "
*"WOW Hits 2009 " - Scheduled to be releasedOctober 7 ,2008 Beginning in 2008, the Wow series made a change. Instead of releasing one two-disc CD set in the fall, they switched to a three-single disc per year method, similar to the
secular Now! series. Discs in this set:*"
WOW Hits 1 " - ReleasedApril 8 ,2008 WOW Worship
The "WOW Worship" series was released annually beginning with "WOW Worship Blue" in 1999. The focus on this series is praise and worship. The first album featured songs performed by the worship leaders who wrote them, like
Darlene Zschech 's "Shout to the Lord ".It is a partnership between Integrity Music, Maranatha Music and Vineyard Music. [ [http://www.wowworship.com/ WOW Worship official website] ]After several years, they switched to a
contemporary Christian music format, where CCM recording artists perform praise and worship songs in their style.The series consists of the following albums:
*"" (1999)
*"" (2000)
*"" (2001)
*"" (2003)
*"" (2004)
*"" (2005)WOW Gospel
The "WOW Gospel" are released annually beginning with "WOW Gospel 1998". The focus of this series is gospel. The compilation is released every year since 1998 [ [http://wowgospelonline.com WOW Gospel] ] .
The series consists of the following albums:
*"WOW Gospel 1998 "
*"WOW Gospel 1999 "
*"WOW Gospel 2000 "
*"WOW Gospel 2001 "
*"WOW Gospel 2002 "
*"WOW Gospel 2003 "
*"WOW Gospel 2004 "
*"WOW Gospel 2005 "
*"WOW Gospel 2006 "
*"WOW Gospel 2007 "
*"WOW Gospel 2008 "Others
*"WOW Gospel #1s" (2007)
*"WOW Gospel Christmas " (2007)Released sporadically
WOW Christmas
"WOW Christmas" is released periodically beginning in 2002. It is a series of
compilation album s featuringChristmas music as recorded bycontemporary Christian music artists. [ [http://www.wowchristmas.com/ WOW Christmas official website] ]The series consists of the following albums:
*"" (2002)
*"" (2005)Released once
WOW The 90s
"WOW The 90s" was release in 1999. All of the songs in this collection were
contemporary Christian music hits during the 1990s. Marketing and distribution responsibilities for this title was relegated toWord Entertainment .WOW Gold
"WOW Gold" was released in 2000. It was a single 2-CD/2-cassette collection of
contemporary Christian music from the 1960s to the time it was released. Marketing and distribution responsibilities for this title in theWOW Hits series was relegated to Brentwood Records (now Provident Music Group).WOW #1s
"WOW #1s: 31 of the Greatest Christian Music Hits Ever" was released in 2005. It is a two disc
compilation album ofsong s that have been dubbed to be the "Greatest Christian Music Hits Ever". It was released onApril 5 ,2005 . The album features songs byFFH ,Amy Grant ,Rebecca St. James ,Chris Rice , Avalon, and many more highly known groups and singers. [ [http://www.wownumberones.com/ WOW #1s official website] ]WOW Next 2007
"WOW Next 2007" is a free CD 10 song disc given to anyone who bought any WOW Compilation CD.
WOW Hymns
"WOW Hymns" was released in March 2007. It is a two disc
compilation album of thirty modern and classic hymns that have been recorded by popular Christian musicians. The album features songs byJeremy Camp ,Chris Tomlin ,Nichole Nordeman ,David Crowder Band , and many more well known groups and singers. An accompanying songbook was also released byWord Music .WOW For The Children
A single-disc release special release for
Feed the Children .WOW Essentials
WOW Essentials was released in August 2008. It was twelve songs that are "essential to Christian music life." It features songs from
Chris Tomlin ,Casting Crowns , and many others.WOW The Videos
The "WOW The Videos" series is released annually beginning with "WOW 1997 The Videos"; it consists of DVDs of
music videos . They have recently stopped putting out the "hits" videos, 2007 was the last.WOW Hits
*WOW 1998-97
*WOW 1999: The Videos
*WOW 2000: The Videos
*WOW 2001: The Videos
*WOW 2002: The Year's Top Christian Music Videos
*WOW 2008: The Year's Top Christian Music VideosWOW Gospel
*WOW Gospel 1998: 17 Top Videos
*WOW Gospel 1999: 15 Top Videos
*WOW Gospel 2000: 16 Top Videos
*WOW Gospel 2001: 12 Top Videos
*WOW Gospel 2002: 12 Top VideosReferences
*http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/music_artist/wow_series
External links
* [http://www.wowhits.com WOW Hits official website]
* [http://all-things-christian.com Find all the WOW HITS]
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