Now! compilation series defies sceptics as buyers circle But as the series approaches its 30th birthday, Sony is reported by Sky News to be in talks with Universal Music to buy a stake in the franchise that defined how millions of UK teenagers first bought music in the 1980s. Now! first hit the shops in the run-up to Christmas in 1983, with an album featuring You Can't Hurry Love by Phil Collins and Too Shy by Kajagoogoo. Created in the London offices of Virgin Records, the Now! series marked a radical departure because all the major music labels agreed that their best-selling songs of the year would be included. The compilation series, which began life on cassette, is said to have sold almost 100m albums. The stake is up for sale following Universal's $1.9bn (£1.2bn) takeover of EMI last year. To secure the European Commission's approval of the deal, the companies pledged to sell a number of assets including EMI's stake in Now! Last week, Universal agreed to sell the Parlophone music label, home to Coldplay and The Pet Shop Boys, to Warner Music for £487m. Sony and Univeral declined to comment.