Decision leaves computer giant Apple alone in fighting federal government’s civil antitrust case

Macmillan reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in its civil antitrust lawsuit accusing the nation’s five largest book publishers of colluding with Apple to raise e-book prices. 

Announced Feb. 8, the settlement, in which Macmillan—named in the April 2012 suit as Holtzbrinck Publishers—agreed to pay up to $20 million, leaves Apple as the only defendant standing in the case. The federal government charged the publishers and Apple with conspiring to force e-book prices several dollars above the $9.99 charged by Amazon.com on its Kindle device.

Under Macmillan’s settlement with the DOJ, the publisher will remove restrictions on discounting and other promotions by e-book retailers. It will also be prohibited from forging new agreements with similar restrictions until December 2014, Associated Press reported. 

“We settled because the potential penalties became too high to risk even the possibility of an unfavorable outcome,” Macmillan CEO John Sargent wrote in an online letter to authors, illustrators and agents. “Our company is not large enough to risk a worst-case judgment.” 

The Justice Department settled with Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Simon & Schuster and Penguin Group (USA) last year. Macmillan’s settlement is expected to be finalized in early July.

The trial against Apple is scheduled to begin in June. Barnes & Noble has sided with Apple out of concern about a monopoly by Amazon.

The publishers’ settlements in the case have not resulted so far in a noticeable decline in e-book prices, as publishers had feared, AP reported.

The DOJ’s lawsuit stems from agreements reached between major publishers and Apple in 2010 that allowed publishers to set their own prices for e-books, an effort to counter Amazon’s deep discounts of best-sellers.

The department and 15 states said Apple and the publishers cost consumers more than $100 million in the past two years by adding $2 or $3, sometimes as much as $5, to the price of each e-book. 

Macmillan also struck a deal to settle a similar suit brought by Connecticut and 32 other states.

Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen said the deal grants e-book retailers greater freedom in pricing the digital books and provides $12 million to compensate affected customers.

Retail attendance ‘about the same’ as last year’s Pennsylvania expo, but 2013 show was ‘productive’ for stores

Munce Group’s CPE (Christian Product Expo) returned to its longtime venue in Hershey, Pa., in January with retailers attending from 100 stores.

Munce Group President Kirk Blank told Christian Retailing that “we were all happy to be back in Hershey.” 

“We had a few more vendors than last year, and a significant increase in authors and speakers,” he said. “Attendance overall was up. Retail attendance was about the same.”

Held Jan. 20-22, CPE Hershey drew nearly 200 retailers. The event featured the theme from 2 Cor. 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

In 2012, CPE was held at the Lancaster Convention Center in Lancaster, Pa., but the marketing group decided to bring the show back to the Hershey Lodge after receiving feedback from vendors and retailers. 

“These two days are as productive as two weeks in-store,” said Michelle Bails, manager of Lion and Lamb: A New Beginning in Niles, Ohio.

Lee Yeckel, sales director for Anchor Distributors, said the event was a success.

“It is a great way to meet other suppliers and distributors and gain knowledge into the Christian bookstore marketplace,” Yeckel said. “Being new to this industry, I was so pleased at the friendly, caring and sharing attitude of all involved. This show is a true blessing.” 

CPE Hershey kicked off Jan. 20 with a Bible conference led by authors Linda Evans Shepherd (When You Need a Miracle, Revell/Baker Publishing Group) and Johnnie Moore (Dirty God, Thomas Nelson) followed by a special dinner with author and producer Bill Myers and Dwight Mason, author of Only God (Barbour Publishing) during the Night of Worship.

Following the Night of Worship, there were screenings of Ring the Bell (Provident Distribution) and Home Run (Provident Films), scheduled to hit theaters April 19.

“We love CPE,” said Bill White, vice president of sales for NOTW. “This was only our second show, but the business we do there is growing with each event. The size and location of the shows provide an intimacy that just isn’t achieved in other tradeshow venues.”

The Christian Authors Network (CAN) gave away more than $3,000 worth of books during CPE Hershey. More than 100 retailers attended the Jan. 21 breakfast event, where they learned about new releases from CAN authors and how to increase store traffic. Three winners each received more than $1,000 worth of books from Zondervan, Abingdon Press, Tyndale House Publishers and Revell/Baker Publishing Group. 

“I’ve never won anything before,” said Theresa Hanley of Solid Rock Café in Chalfont, Pa.

The other two winners were Nanette Jones of The Branch in Dover, Del., and Mary Rajasekhar of Olivet Books and Gifts in Alpina, Mich. 

“We can use these new books to build awareness of authors,” Jones said. “We’ll also use some to bless our loyal customers and some for people who like to shop at the store, but can’t afford to buy much.”

Rajasekhar added: “Getting to know authors on a more personal level is great. We also like to get to know our customers personally. Then when we see something we know a certain customer will like we think, ‘That’s exactly what they need.’ ” 

Munce Group formed a partnership last June with CAN, a marketing co-op with more than 100 members, which seeks to educate authors and promote their books.

Bonnie Calhoun, president of CAN, said that the partnership “is helping our authors get into the hands of many more retailers, and it is supplying retailers with great products to sell.” 

Munce, which serves more than 500 stores nationwide, emphasizes order-writing at CPE by motivating retailers with a reimbursement program that helps to offset travel, food and hotel expenses. 

Munce’s next CPE is set for Sept. 22-24 at the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Capitol Christian ‘now in the best position’ to grow the business; RCA Inspiration sees key promotions

EMI Christian Music Group has unveiled its new name as Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG)—part of the newly launched Capitol Music Group, which includes Capitol Records, Virgin Records, Blue Note, Astralwerks, Harvest, Caroline and the Capitol Studios.

“We are very encouraged to be working alongside Steve Barnett and the amazing team he is building at the new Capitol Music Group,” said CCMG President and CEO Bill Hearn. “Being part of this team and with the strength of the Universal Music Group Distribution system, we are now in the best possible position to invest in and serve our artists and writers and grow our business.”

CCMG garnered three GRAMMYs with ForeFront Records’ TobyMac and sixstepsrecords’ Matt Redman during the 55th annual GRAMMY Awards held Feb. 10 in Los Angeles. 

EMI Christian Music Group was also recognized in the music category by CBA during its Second Annual Champions of the Faith Awards prior to the International Christian Retail Show last summer in Orlando, Fla.

Meanwhile, Verity Gospel Music Group has been renamed RCA Inspiration. Geo Bivins, who also remains senior vice president of urban promotion for RCA Records, has been named general manager to run day-to-day operations. 

In addition, Stanley Brown has been promoted to head of A&R, and Cheryl Marks to vice president of marketing. All three will remain in the company’s New York City headquarters.

“I am very excited to be working with so many great gospel artists,” Bivins said. “RCA Inspiration will continue the
tradition held by Verity Gospel Music Group as the leader in inspirational music. In addition to great music, I am equally excited to work with the best A&R, promotion and marketing team in the business.”

During his music career, Bivins, senior vice president of urban promotion for RCA Records since 2007, was responsible for the promotion of hits from many mainstream artists, including Snoop, Chingy, R. Kelly, Busta Rhymes and Notorious Big.

Brown, who had served as senior director of A&R for Verity since 2010, is an accomplished musician, producer and label executive with more than 20 years experience in the music business. Brown’s label executive experience includes vice president of A&R for Island Black Music, where he signed and oversaw projects by Karen Clark Sheard, Donald Lawrence and Bishop T.D. Jakes.

Marks previously served as senior director of marketing for Verity, spearheading award-winning campaigns for Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker and the “Wow Gospel” series. 

RCA Inspiration kicked off the year Jan. 22 with Bless This House, the eighth release from Kurt Carr. Other projects set for 2013 include Fred Hammond’s United Tenor; a debut album from BET’s Sunday Best audience favorite Latice Crawford; and the next installment from the “Wow Gospel” series. 

New event to ‘bring together the biggest names in Christian music, sports, books and movies’

K-LOVE has announced the launch of the first fan-voted awards show in Christian music history. The winners will be announced at the K-LOVE Fan Awards show, which will be held June 1 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.  

The show is part of the K-LOVE Fan Awards and Ultimate Fan Experience, to be held May 31-June 2—an inaugural event that will “bring together the biggest names in Christian music, sports, books and movies for its biggest night in Music City,” organizers said. 

A leading Christian radio network with a weekly audience of 14 million people, K-LOVE selected Nashville as the host city because it is “home to the faith-based entertainment industry.”

“We appreciate our relationship with both listeners and Nashville’s music community,” K-LOVE Chief Creative Officer David Pierce said. “The K-LOVE Fan Awards is an opportunity for us to appreciate and encourage those who are making music and media that impacts our world for Christ.”

The voting process will begin in May, and award categories include Female Vocalist of the Year; Male Vocalist of the Year; Duo/Group of the Year; Breakthrough Artists of the Year; Sports Impact; Movie Impact; Book of the Year; “Unsung Hero,” K-LOVE listener  award; Artists of the Year; and Song of the Year.

The new event was announced Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, at the Ryman, which drew artists such as TobyMac, Amy Grant, Jeremy Camp, Brandon Heath, Francesca Battistelli, Jamie Grace and Plumb as well as Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. 

The awards mission is “to create a fan experience that celebrates and promotes artists, athletes, authors and entertainers who, with excellence, engage and impact popular culture for Jesus Christ.”

“K-LOVE is in a unique position to bring together millions of listeners, while building a very special event with the Christian music community,” said John Sanders, co-creator and producer of the event. 

The award show will be hosted by Phil and Kay Robertson and Jase and Missy Robertson, stars of  A&E TV’s popular show Duck Dynasty. 

“We are thrilled to be a part of this fan-centered event for the Christian music industry,” the Robertsons said in a joint statement. “With our own show, we know how important and vital the fans are to our success, and we understand why K-LOVE wants to host this event to give back to their listeners. As fans of Christian music, we are excited to host the awards and bring our own Duck Dynasty flare to the evening for a fun-filled, family-friendly event.” 

For more information on the K-LOVE Fan Awards and Ultimate Fan Experience, visit www.KLOVEFanAwards.com.

Sixstepsrecords artist garners pair of awards at the 55th annual event for ‘10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)’

Matt Redman won two GRAMMYs during the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards, held Feb. 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Redman was recognized in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Song and Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance categories for “10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)” from his sixstepsrecords album 10,000 Reasons (EMI CMG Distribution).

Israel Houghton and Micah Massey were also recognized as tied for the win with Redman in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Song category for “Your Presence Is Heaven” from Jesus at the Center (Integrity Music/RGM—New Breed Music/Provident
Distribution).

TobyMac’s Eye On It (ForeFront Records/EMI CMG) won the Best Contemporary Christian Album category, while hip-hop artist Lecrae nabbed a GRAMMY for Gravity (Reach Records/Infinity Music Distribution) in the Best Gospel Album category.

Sister duo Mary Mary won the Best Gospel Song category for “Go Get It,” the title track of Go Get It (Columbia Records/Provident Distribution).

Mary Mary also captured wins in two categories during the 44th NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Image Awards, held Feb. 1 at the historic Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. 

Go Get It edged out other Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary) nominees, which included Fred Hammond, God, Love & Romance (Verity Gospel Music Group); Marvin Sapp, I Win (Verity Gospel); Le’Andria Johnson, Le’Andria Johnson The Experience (Music World Gospel); and Tamela Mann, Best Days (Tillymann Music Group). The sister duo also won in the Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration category. 

ICRS strategy aims to ‘bring more buyers’ and offer ‘cost-effective ways’ to exhibit

CBA and convention organizer Freeman have launched a new program for exhibitors to help improve return on investment (ROI) at the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS), to be held June 23-26 in St. Louis.

CBA’s “ICRS Cost Savings” will communicate tips, techniques and best practices to increase efficiencies, and boost sales and marketing impact. The program includes a weekly e-newsletter for suppliers and prospective vendors with links to resources and information on how to save money and increase sales.

CBA President Curtis Riskey said exhibitors often could make slight adjustments in operations and logistics to generate more leads, booth traffic and sales. 

“We are seeing a greater need for trade shows, while at the same time economic circumstances make measuring ROI more critical,” Riskey said. “Our goal with the cooperative initiative with Freeman is to make exhibiting time more productive before ICRS, during the event and post ICRS.”

A number of new ICRS initiatives will expand marketing opportunities for exhibitors and provide a forum for obtaining more qualified leads, CBA said. 

“Seeing new products, learning new ideas and improving business operations are key reasons buyers attend trade shows,” Riskey said. “We are developing a combined strategy to bring more buyers to the show, while offering new, cost-effective ways to exhibit.”

Toby Purdy, Freeman chief marketing officer, added: “This combined effort will help exhibitors significantly save time and money, while increasing tradeshow effectiveness.”

ICRS Cost Savings also features an educational paper on how to reduce material-handling costs; a first-time exhibitor video and helpful tips to improve sales; and a live webinar for exhibitors.

Charisma House expects sales of new book by famed Brownsville revivalist to rival ‘The Harbinger’

Evangelist Steve Hill narrowly missed entering heaven’s gates after years of fighting incurable melanoma. Hill—pastor emeritus of Heartland World Ministries in Dallas/Fort Worth and best-selling author known worldwide for his preaching at the Brownsville (Pensacola, Fla.) revival—had a close call with eternity, but prayed for more time so he could keep winning souls for Jesus.

Hill was given more time not only to win souls, but also to sound a warning message to the church—one that has since been released by Charisma House, which has high hopes for the book following the publisher’s ongoing success with its New York Times best-seller The Harbinger. 

After believing God told him to come off of many of the medications being used to combat his cancer, Hill said he experienced a “full-color, open vision” at a time when he couldn’t walk and was feeling useless in his service to the Lord. 

On the basis of the vision, he wrote a Charisma News article in mid-December that warned of false teachings in the church—and the article
went viral on social media outlets. With reaction that paralleled the response Charisma House received after releasing The Harbinger, the company opted to rush to print Hill’s book based on the vision. Spiritual Avalanche: The Threat of False Teachings That Could Destroy Millions hit store shelves March 12.

“The truths presented in Steve Hill’s Spiritual Avalanche are a wake-up call for Christians,” said Tessie DeVore, executive vice president, Charisma House. “In the same way that The Harbinger has sounded the alarm and created an unprecedented movement around the world, this book amplifies the true message of holiness and a return to God.”

In Hill’s vision, he saw a mountain covered in glistening snow. Skiers were enjoying their day on the slopes, unaware of impending doom as the snow accumulated, setting off an avalanche and killing those who did not heed ski patrol warnings. Hill believes that the church is being “snowed” by false teachings that are threatening unsuspecting believers who have been deceived. Spiritual Avalanche is a call to holiness, but also sounds a warning to the church against cheap grace, universal salvation, the deification of man and other teachings that Hill believes are destroying believers’ spiritual lives.

Such heretical doctrines are widespread, Hill argues, as pastors and teachers worldwide have succumbed, and they “will be held accountable for the spiritual death of millions,” he writes. 

Regarding the deification of man, Hill said: “Christian leaders are rising to the top and sheep are following them without even questioning the word that’s coming out of their mouth. They’re feeding them what they want to hear. ‘Tickle my ears.’ Paul said it was going to happen.”

Charisma House is supporting the release of Spiritual Avalanche with a major publicity effort. National media includes television appearances on Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural!, Trinity Broadcasting Network’s  Praise the Lord, Daystar’s Marcus & Joni and other major Christian television outlets. Additionally, a national television and radio advertising campaign promoted the book on FOX News, the INSP Network and Salem Radio Network.

The book was endorsed by church leaders from Jack Hayford to Mike Bickle,  features a foreword by best-selling author and international evangelist Perry Stone, and marks a definitive return for Hill in publishing and ministry.

“I’m still on fire,” he said. “I’m like a soldier. A soldier often fights in pain.”

Hill is still undergoing treatment, but using more holistic means. 

When his health was depleted by chemotherapy, his wife, Jeri, believes she heard God say to her: “Take care of the man of God.” And that’s just what she did. 

“For a full year, there was no communication,” Hill said. On his hospice bed after being given just a few days to live, the funeral was planned and the burial plots were purchased. Then Hill prayed a special, silent prayer. 

“Jesus,” he said, “they just told me that I’m going to die and to die is gain. You and I are madly in love with each other, Jesus. You’ve been my best friend for decades. Now they say it’s over.”

He went on to “make a deal” with God.

“If it’s over, that’s fine because to die is gain. But You’re hard-pressed for evangelists, Jesus. There are very few evangelists out there that do what I do and You know that. If You’ll let me live, I will win another million people to You, Lord.”

Hill is once again preaching to large crowds and working on From the Frontlines with Steve Hill, a website and TV program. From the Frontlines is translated into other languages, including Arabic, which he said is reaching members of al-Qaida. 

Along with a burden for evangelism, the holiness message continues to drive Hill, who was saved after living a rebellious life.

“When I got saved,” he said, “one of the things that attracted me to Christianity was purity.”

Help choose the top products in the Christian Retailing’s Best awards

Christian Retailing invites anyone involved in the business of Christian products to vote in the 2013 Christian Retailing’s Best awards. Let your voice be heard by voting online in the awards, formerly known as the Retailers Choice Awards.

Introduced in 2001, Christian Retailing’s awards have been increasingly acknowledged as an important way of recognizing some of the most significant new, life-changing products in the industry.

In this year’s refreshed program, Christian retailers are now joined by authors, editors, literary agents, distributors, gift designers and others in the Christian products industry to vote for what they think are the best Christian products released in the previous year. Owners and managers of Christian retail stores should note that voting is open to all of their team members, including volunteers.

Suppliers have entered their products in a large number of categories for books, Bibles, gifts, music, DVDs and more. Those involved in the industry can vote from March 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013. To vote, go to <a href="http://www.christianretailingsbest.com" target="_blank">www.christianretailingsbest.com</a> and click on the link for the online survey ballot.

Products nominated for the 2013 Christian Retailing’s Best awards have been published or newly on sale in stores in 2012, with the exception of nominations in the Backlist category.

Voters will be asked to judge nominations on the impact they have had on staff and customers, including their ability to:

• ?speak to people’s hearts and evoke emotion
• ?open people’s minds to new ways of thinking
• ?encourage and affirm Christ-like living.

Finalists will be announced April 8, and winners will be announced at the International Christian Retail Show to be held June 23-26 in St. Louis.

Bridge-Logos Inc. has announced that three new owners have acquired the Alachua, Fla.-based charismatic publishing company. The former owner was Catherine “Kitty” Morrell, co-founder of the company, who died in 2009.

The new owners are: Suzanne Wooldridge, daughter of Guy and Kitty Morrell; Ed Harding, former president of New Wine Ministries in the United Kingdom; and Lloyd Hildebrand, Bridge-Logos’ publisher. The new leadership is “firmly committed to continuing the tradition of excellence that was set forth by the company’s founders,” company officials said.

In addition to its “Pure Gold Classics” series featuring titles by Andrew Murray and Charles Spurgeon, Bridge-Logos has also become known for publishing books by evangelist Ray Comfort, Liberty Savard, David Yonggi-Cho, Kathryn Kuhlman, Vinson Synan, Nicky Cruz and Dennis and Rita Bennett.

As president and CEO of Bridge-Logos, Hildebrand said that he is “very excited” about the future of the company, which began nearly 45 years ago.

“Publishing plans for 2013 are well under way, and we expect God to bless our books and authors as they reach out to people all over the world,” said Hildebrand, author of 2012: Is This the End? and Prayers That Change Things (Bridge-Logos). “Our owners have more than 75 years of combined experience in Christian publishing, and with God’s help, we are keeping up with the current trends in the marketplace. Our goal remains the same as our founders put forth years ago—to publish the changeless Word for a changing world.

Meanwhile, Shawn Myers, who previously served as publicist and sales and marketing manager, has been appointed as chief operations officer.

Myers “has proven herself to be an extremely valuable employee and leader,” Hildebrand said.

Jonathan Cahn’s prophetic, warning-to-America novel has sold more than 1 million copies in a year

Messianic rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s novel, The Harbinger, marks a milestone in 2012 as the longest-running Christian title on the New York Times Paperback Trade Fiction list. The book has also sold more than 1 million copies.

The FrontLine/Charisma House Book Group title has ranked for 55 weeks on the best-seller list, placing at No. 12 on the Feb. 3 list. Cahn told Christian Retailing that The Harbinger was “a God thing.”

“I knew that the story of The Harbinger would go forth,” he said. “What surprised me is how it became a best-seller. The whole phenomenon has amazed me. I’m sure there will be a sequel to The Harbinger. As far as the timing, I’m waiting on the Lord. There’s so much more to tell. Since The Harbinger came out, what is in the book is coming true.”

Released Jan. 3, 2012, the novel has gone to print 17 times.

“The success of The Harbinger is not just to be attributed to the efforts of our company or to Jonathan Cahn’s impeccable skills as a communicator and teacher,” said Tessie DeVore, executive vice president, Charisma House, the book group of Charisma Media.

The prophetic novel that is a warning to America has ranked on USA Today’s Best-Selling Books for 54 weeks and was No. 87 on the Jan. 24 list.

In the Christian market, the book has placed regularly on the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Christian Best-sellers list, ranking at No. 1 on the February 2013 Fiction list and at No. 11 on the General list. It was also No. 6 on the latest CBA best-seller list.

“Selling more than 1 million copies of The Harbinger is a reflection of the interest by many who have been gripped by the uncanny scriptural parallels to what’s happened in current events,” said Tessie DeVore, executive vice president, Charisma House, the book group of Charisma Media. “What makes this milestone even more gratifying is to know that people are not only learning about these mysteries, but are also praying for America.”

The Harbinger Companion With Study Guide, also from FrontLine, gives the story behind the story, taking readers deeper into the prophecy in the novel. Featuring a 13-week study guide, photos of the actual harbingers, articles, maps and more, the companion work was released Jan. 8.