Longest-running album series

The first Now That's What I Call Music! (Virgin/EMI) compilation album was released on double vinyl and cassette in the UK on 28 November 1983 and featured 30 songs from the likes of Phil Collins, Culture Club and UB40. On 7 April 2014, the Now! series celebrated more than 30 years of UK chart hits with the digital/CD release of Now! 87, featuring 46 tracks including chart-topping singles by Pharrell Williams, Miley Cyrus and Pitbull. The Now! franchise, which has been licensed around the world, has sold more than 100 million units in the UK alone. Now! series summary (as of 7 April 2014):

First: Now That's What I Call Music!, 28 November 1983

Editions: 87

Songs: 3,440

Units sold: more than 100 million

Most appearances: Robbie Williams (33)

Most appearances on one album: Calvin Harris (3)

The Now! series was the brainchild of Virgin Records' Stephen Navin, Head of Licensing and Business Affairs, and General Manager Jon Webster.

The series title came from a 1920s Danish Bacon poster spotted by Virgin Records' Richard Branson at Dodo's, a bric-a-brac shop on London's Portobello Road run by his future wife. It depicted a pig leaning on a brick wall, trotter to ear, listening to a chicken under the caption "Now, That's what I call Music."

The 87-edition Now! series has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide since 1983. The biggest-selling edition was Now! 44, released in November 1999, which sold more than 2.3 million copies (the biggest-selling compilation album of all time in the UK). The fastest-selling edition was Now! 70, which had first-week sales of 383,002 copies in July 2008.

As of 9 December 2013, a total of 206 editions had been released in the Now! franchise since 1983, including a 33-edition dance series and 32 special editions. It was announced in May 2010 that the Now! franchise had passed the 200-million sales mark around the world.

The albums are licensed for three years, ensuring that editions become collector's items after they're deleted.

33 Robbie Williams tracks have appeared on Now! albums (up to and including Now! 87) - he's had more tracks featured than any other act.

More than 25 countries around the world have adopted the Now! series, including South Africa (since 1984) and the USA (since 1998).

In October 2013, the NOW Music channel was launched on Sky 378 and FreeSat 512 in the UK.

Some of Now!'s main rivals for this record are: Absolute (EVA Records (Sweden), since 1986); A Very Special Christmas (A&M, 9 albums, 1987-2012); Super Eurobeat (Beat Freak/Avex Trax (Japan), 225 albums since 1990); Hits (Sony BMG/Warner Music, 68 albums, 1984-2006); The Best... Album in the World... Ever! (EMI/Virgin Records, numerous albums and spin-offs since 1993); The Annual (Ministry of Sound, 35 albums since 1995); Grammy Nominees (various labels, 19 albums since 1995); Bonkers (various labels, 19 albums, 1996-2009); 100% Hits (Australia, 43 albums, 1991-2002), Hit Machine (Australia, c. 1993-present); Greensleeves Rhythm Album (Greensleeves Records, 90 albums, 2000-10).