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.