I can't speak to what it became.  But I did like early Way Productions. Groups like, Selah, Pressed Down..., Goodseed.  I even like Joyful Noise at first. By the Wake Up America time they were becoming less joyful and more plastic.  I have the feeling that the early on most of the musicians sang from their heart and enjoyed playing and really meant to praise God with what they sang.  When I visited much later, in the 90's I found not only Way Productions plactic, but the entire ministry.  I remember commenting to my wife, "They took the Joy out of Joyful Noise."  
I sing for our church at nursing homes and often sing a couple of songs from Joyful Noise's first album, the old people there really like  Give Christ a Try, Christian Man, and Ready to Go.