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"WOW" is a series of annual compilation albums featuring contemporary 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 (now Word Entertainment), Sparrow Records (now part of EMI Christian Music Group), and Reunion 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 by EMI 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[1]. It contains the following albums:

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 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.[2]

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:

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[3].

The series consists of the following albums:

Others

Released periodically

WOW Christmas

WOW Christmas is released periodically beginning in 2002. It is a series of compilation albums featuring Christmas music as recorded by contemporary Christian music artists.[4]

The series consists of the following albums:

Released once

WOW The 90s

Main article: 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 to Word Entertainment.

WOW Gold

Main article: 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 the WOW Hits series was relegated to Brentwood Records (now Provident Music Group).

WOW #1s

Main article: WOW Number 1s

WOW #1s: 31 of the Greatest Christian Music Hits Ever was released in 2005. It is a two disc compilation album of songs that have been dubbed to be the "Greatest Christian Music Hits Ever". It was released on April 5, 2005. The album features songs by FFH, Amy Grant, Rebecca St. James, Chris Rice, Avalon, and many more highly known groups and singers.[5]

WOW Next 2007

Main article: WOW Next 2007

WOW Next 2007 is a free CD 10 song disc given to anyone who bought any WOW Compilation CD.

WOW Hymns

Main article: 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 by Jeremy Camp, Chris Tomlin, Nichole Nordeman, David Crowder Band, and many more well known groups and singers. An accompanying songbook was also released by Word Music.

WOW For The Children

A single-disc release special release for Feed the Children.

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 that the are currently making.

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 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 Videos

References

  1. ^ WOW Hits
  2. ^ WOW Worship official website
  3. ^ WOW Gospel
  4. ^ WOW Christmas official website
  5. ^ WOW #1s official website
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