They almost certainly will. If you look at the user comments for Now 101 and Now 99, it was the inclusion of so many urban songs that pissed a lot of casual buyers off. The more MOR approach of Now 102 is here to stay I reckon. Only huge urban songs, like Vossi Bop, will still make it (and even that's not a certainty).

 

I personally don't mind the whole bonus tracks inclusion thing. 40 songs is still enough modern songs to not feel short changed.

Urban is popular. People should just deal with it. End of story. Looking back on past NOWs, the majority of them had urban music like old school urban etc and no one complained. All of a sudden, people start complaining so they stop using those artists. If people wanna complain, I’ll complain about them including too many radio 2 artists and lots of flop songs. If we get no urban, everyone should just complain and maybe they’ll listen and start adding urban again

Edited June 30, 20196 yr by Hadji

Urban is popular amongst a different demographic that the Now albums are aimed at, it would make no business sense for them to not go with what their buyers want - and judging from the comments online - was less rap.

Urban is popular. People should just deal with it. End of story. Looking back on past NOWs, the majority of them had urban music like old school urban etc and no one complained. All of a sudden, people start complaining so they stop using those artists. If people wanna complain, I’ll complain about them including too many radio 2 artists and lots of flop songs. If we get no urban, everyone should just complain and maybe they’ll listen and start adding urban again

 

Hadji, you're hardly one to comment on people complaining about Nows :lol:

 

No one's denying that urban music is very popular, but it's all about target market. Generally speaking, a lot of urban music fans are not going to be buying a Now CD. Infact, they won't by buying any CD, as urban is significantly more successful on streaming platforms than sales. CD sales are going to be more popular with slightly older, more traditional buyers, and stereo typically speaking, urban music is less likely to appeal to them. That's why I think only the biggest urban songs will be included from here on out. For Now fanatics who are mainly concerned about as many charting hits as possible featuring, it's going to be somewhat frustrating losing multiple Top 40 hits, but fanatics don't make up the majority of the buying market.

 

Of course I'm not literally suggesting that NowMusic are going to remove or include songs based on people leaving comments on Facebook, but they're no fools. They know who the Nows are most likely to appeal to these days, and are catering towards them. The Nows have to adapt and ever evolve to still compete in the current music climate, so it's pointless referring back to past Nows.

Of course I'm not literally suggesting that NowMusic are going to remove or include songs based on people leaving comments on Facebook, but they're no fools. They know who the Nows are most likely to appeal to these days, and are catering towards them. The Nows have to adapt and ever evolve to still compete in the current music climate, so it's pointless referring back to past Nows.

They replaced Jason Mraz with Flo Rida on NOW 81 due to Facebook complaints. And personally, I’d rather have a NOW full of current hits than have 6 throwback songs

Edited June 30, 20196 yr by Hadji

But Flo Rida's 'Good Feeling' is a pop-rap song (no different to Garrix's 'Summer Days' which will probably be on 103), absolutely nothing like Russ' 'Gun Lean', or GRM songs like that.

Edited June 30, 20196 yr by WhoOdyssey

They replaced Jason Mraz with Flo Rida on NOW 81 due to Facebook complaints. And personally, I’d rather have a NOW full of current hits than have 6 throwback songs

 

Are we not getting 40 tracks that are current though? That’s a standard compilation number

I’m just holding out hope that with the radio 2/album chart thing they did with 102 that there’s a small possibility of Dido making her second ever appearance. I may start collecting again if this happens. I’d also like to see Pink feature despite her not having had a hit since the last one.

Are we not getting 40 tracks that are current though? That’s a standard compilation number

Yes but I’d rather have 46-50 current songs, whatever they can fit on one disc than have 40 current songs plus 6 throwback songs

Yes but I’d rather have 46-50 current songs, whatever they can fit on one disc than have 40 current songs plus 6 throwback songs

 

But they’ll struggle to get they many ‘hits’ even if they do go for urban music. It’s not even 3 months since the last one.

But they’ll struggle to get they many ‘hits’ even if they do go for urban music. It’s not even 3 months since the last one.

Or they could go deeper and go for songs which were released before NOW 101 like they did by including songs on 102 which were released before 99. Speaking of the six throwback tracks which will be appearing, I’m guessing it will be:

 

Duran Duran - The Reflex

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes

Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy

Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time

Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It

Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

 

I’m hoping "Young At Heart" isn’t one of the throwback tracks as we also had it on NOW 24 and I hope "Against All Odds" isn’t one of the throwback tracks either as we also just had it on NOW 100

Bought Now 2 yesterday. People complaining on Facebook about Bob Marley being missing from Now 3. They realise why Glitter's not on. The main reason for One Love being missing is that the copyright holders won't license it as the Marley Legend compilation has just been re-issued on 180g vinyl and they think it'll take sales from that.

I just hope they don’t snub Billie Eilish like they snubbed her off 101 and 102. And before anyone says anything, NOW seem to be snubbing her as she’s appeared on other compilations

Bought Now 2 yesterday. People complaining on Facebook about Bob Marley being missing from Now 3. They realise why Glitter's not on. The main reason for One Love being missing is that the copyright holders won't license it as the Marley Legend compilation has just been re-issued on 180g vinyl and they think it'll take sales from that.

 

If that was the reason Now wouldn’t exist at all! I reckon it’s the cost to re licence the track.

If that was the reason Now wouldn’t exist at all! I reckon it’s the cost to re licence the track.

 

Maybe partly too, yes.

As they normally tend to include songs from #1 albums, it means they might include Tom Walker and P!nk's next singles. Also, if NOW 103 was released a week later and Sam Smith has a new song out on the 19th, there’s have been a chance of including him too

Edited June 30, 20196 yr by Hadji

Now 103 Tracklist released. Give me 10 mins and I'll get it typed up for you :)

First impression of #NOW103 track list:

• No T-Swift (either "ME!" or "You Need to Calm Down").
• Ed Sheeran is there, but again, not his no. 1 single, "I Don't Care (feat. Justin Bieber)", similar to how his no. 1's from the "Divide" album, "Shape of You" and "Perfect" didn't make it. Alexandra Burke much? (never forget NOW 74 and 77 that missed out her no. 1's at the time as well).
• yay billie eilish!
• Not anti-urban this time, as most of you would've wanted.
• Double appearances (incl. featured appearances) from Avicii, Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, Jax Jones, 5SOS, and surprise, surprise, "Rocketman" lead actor Taron Egerton (side note: I haven't had the chance to watch that one yet :cry: , which is said to be an early favourite from the movie award-giving bodies).
• Speaking of, love that they have another movie vibe for the album just like NOW 102, as apart from the aforementioned 2 "Rocketman" appearances, there's also the cover of The Beatles' "Yesterday" from the film of the same name, sung by its lead actor Himesh Patel (when I looked at the trailer, I thought it was Dev Patel of "Slumdog Millionaire" fame! Looking forward to watch it in my country when it premieres here by the end of the month, a full month after its release elsewhere in the world. :angry: )
• Only 4 bonus tracks from NOW 3, down from the 6 that was promised earlier. Maybe they listened to us?
• And whoa, 48 songs in total, the most for a numbered NOW album ever! (44 if you only count the current chart hits.) I wonder what its distribution would be like across its two discs?

I will take a listen to it on Spotify later today to see how the flow goes. :)

Edited July 2, 20196 yr by Ken A.

Now 103 Official Tracklist

 

1. Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus - Old Town Road

2. Ed Sheeran feat. Chance the rapper and PNB Rock - Cross Me

3. Billie Eilish - Bad Guy

4. Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc - S.O.S

5. Katy Perry - Never Really Over

6. Ariana Grande - Break Up Wityh Your Girlfriend I'm Board

7. MEDUZA feat. Goodboys - Piece Of Your Heart

8. Stormzy - Vossi Bop

9. Shawn Mendes - If I Can't Have You

10. Mark Ronson feat. Camila Cabello - Find U Again

11. Mabel - Mad Love

12. Sigala feat. Becky Hill - Wish You Well

13. P!nk feat. Cash Cash - Can We Pretend

14. Jess Glynne & Jax Jones - One Touch

15. Zara Larsson - Don't Worry About Me

16. Camelphat feat. Jake Bugg - Be Someone

17. Jax Jones, Martin Solveig & Madison Bear present Europa - All Day & Night

18. Martin Garrix feat. Macklemore & Patrick Stump of Fallout Boy - Summer Days

19. Little Mix - Bounce Back

20. Jonas Blue feat. Theresa Rex - What I Like About You

21. The Chainsmokers & 5 Seconds of Summer - Who Do You Love

22. Miley Cyrus - Mother's Daughter

23. Jonas Brothers - Cool

24. 5 Seconds of Summer - Easier

25. Steel Banglez feat. AJ Tracey & MoStack - Fashion Week

26. Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello - Senorita

27. Lewis Capaldi - Hold Me While You Wait

28. Ariana Grande feat. Victoria Monet - MONOPOLY

29. Avicii - Heaven

30. David Guetta feat. Raye - Stay (Don't Go Away)

31. Bastille - Joy

32. Elton John & Taron Egerton - (I'm Gonna) Love Me Again (from Rocketman)

33. Kylie Minogue - New York City

34. Ellie Goulding - Sixteen

35. OneRepublic - Rescue Me

36. Dominic Fike - 3 Nights

37. Lighthouse Family - My Salvation

38. Emeli Sande - Sparrow

39. Sam Fender - Hypersonic Missiles

40. Liam Gallagher - Shockwave

41. James Arthur - Falling Like Stars

42. Westlife - Better Man

43. Taron Egerton - Rocket Man (from Rocket man)

44. Himesh Patel - Yesterday (from Yesterday)

 

Bonus Tracks from Now 3:-

 

45. Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel - White Lines (Don't Do It)

46. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Locomotion

47. The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men

48. Nik Kershaw - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

Edited July 3, 20196 yr by gavindeejay

That seems like such a randomly thrown together compilation. I think they did ok with what they have to work with nowadays, but I dunno. At 48 tracks they really didn't need the Now 3 songs (FO WITH THESE) and/or 2 Rocketman songs that failed to chart and they coulda done without adding MONOPOLY (which is amusingly random)

 

YAAAS for OneRepublic though :heart:

What a weird tracklisting order

 

Shocked but surprised at OneRepublic!