‘Your Mission. Our Mission. Impacting Eternity’ aims to ‘capture the essence’ of the veteran Christian products distributor

Anchor Distributors has announced a new company tag line: Your Mission. Our Mission. Impacting Eternity. 

Earlier this year, Anchor, the sister company of Whitaker House, held a contest for employees to help create a motto “that would capture the essence of who we are and what we do,” said John Whitaker, vice president of Pennsylvania-based Anchor Distributors. “The winning phrase is actually a combination of two different employee submissions.” 

While embracing the future, the motto also underscores the legacy of Whitaker Corp. founder Robert E. “Bob” Whitaker Sr., who died in May 2012. 

“In the mid-1960s, as my dad was searching for answers to life. He was led to God through reading Christian books,” Whitaker said. “He was so passionate about his new life of faith that he started giving books away to as many people as he could. That is why I am here today, and why my family is following Christ, by the grace of God.”

“The impact of Christian literature on just one life changed countless generations for all eternity,” Whitaker added. “We’re hoping in some way, this new tag line will be a reminder to all we come in contact with at Anchor.”

Cincinnati-based publisher plans to refocus on church resources as brand’s acquisition is called ‘a win for both companies’

Standard Publishing Group, a division of CFM Religion Publishing Group, has sold the Rainbow Study Bible brand to B&H Publishing Group. In a refocus on its core strengths, the Cincinnati-based curriculum publisher is also significantly refreshing its HeartShapers Sunday school curriculum.

“This is a win for both companies,” said CFM Publishing CEO and President Peter M. Esposito. “At Standard, we are aligning our focus to our core strengths, to be the leading provider of church resources, including adult and children’s curriculum and special programming like Vacation Bible School. B&H has expertise in Bible publishing, and this adds a best-seller to their existing portfolio.”

A best-selling Bible since 1995, the Rainbow Study Bible has sold more than a million copies. It features a color-coding system that allows readers to quickly and easily identify 12 major Scripture themes throughout the text: God, discipleship, love, faith, sin, evil, salvation, family, outreach, commandments, history and prophecy. The system also underlines all words directly spoken by God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Describing the B&H team as “thrilled” with the acquisition that was seen to strengthen its Holman Bible Publishers brand, B&H President Selma Wilson said: “We are intentionally grounded in God’s Word at B&H, so to officially add this powerful resource to our publishing program is exciting. We have a great history with the Spanish edition and have seen how this product speaks into peoples’ lives. B&H is grateful to our friends at Standard for their stewardship of this resource over the years, and we look forward to growing and managing the Rainbow Study Bible for many years to come.”

At press time, B&H said the company planned to sell Standard’s remaining English editions of the Rainbow Study Bible inventory to retail partners within 30 days. 

In summer 2014, B&H will introduce updated editions in English and Spanish translations. B&H has published the Reina-Valera Revision (RVR) edition in Spanish since 1996.

In another sign of the company’s refocus, Standard is embarking on a significant refresh to its HeartShapers toddler-to-preteen curriculum, the first major revision in nearly seven years. The program has six age-appropriate levels with teacher guides and student materials. New fall curriculum releases July 1.

“We’ve conducted some research and through significant work with children’s pastors, we’ve made the teacher guides much more user-friendly,” said Stephanie Woeste, vice president of marketing. “We’ve completely updated the artwork in the books, primarily focused on the student books, and it’s very exciting because we’ve used nationally recognized artists from books like National Geo Kids, Weekly Reader and things that folks recognize, so it has a contemporary look and feel.” 

One of the significant components of the refreshed program is the special-needs-friendly curriculum.

“Every quarter we publish a free, 15-page newsletter that has a couple components to it,” Woeste said. “First of all, there’s an inspirational component for leaders, but it’s also a way to easily adapt the lessons within the HeartShapers age levels to help include children of special needs in our classrooms. So, it really focuses on what are the sensory difficulties that children with special needs may have and how to overcome those with the activities and the lessons.” 

Additionally, teachers were asking for an editable teacher guide so they could make each lesson their own, allowing churches to customize the lessons. 

“We’ll be offering downloadable teacher guides in Word format that they can then make their touches to and distribute to their volunteers,” Woeste said.

U.S. Supreme Court decision ‘creates rights issues and pricing challenges’ for publishing houses selling abroad

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that books and other content goods made and sold abroad can be resold online and in discount stores without violating U.S. copyright law.  

In a 6-3 opinion March 19, the court threw out a copyright infringement award to publisher John Wiley & Sons against Thai graduate student Supap Kirtsaeng, who used eBay to resell copies in the U.S. of the publisher’s copyrighted books that his relatives first bought abroad at cut-rate prices, Associated Press (AP) reported.

“We are disappointed that [the] copyright decision by the U.S. Supreme Court ignores broader issues critical to America’s ability to compete in the global marketplace,” said Tom Allen, president and CEO of the Association of American Publishers (AAP). “The decision will have significant ramifications for Americans who produce the books, music, movies and other content consumed avidly around the world. 

“The court’s interpretation of the ‘first sale’ provision of U.S. copyright law will discourage the active export of U.S. copyrighted works,” Allen added. 

Evangelical Christian Publishers Association President and CEO Mark Kuyper told Christian Retailing that the ruling presents a cause for concern.

“I think this ruling specifically and immediately creates rights issues and pricing challenges on English-language editions for publishers,” he said. “However, it underscores the long-term challenges that may be coming down the road regarding global rights in a digital world.   

Rocky Gilmore, chief operating officer of Group Publishing, said the Loveland, Colo.-based company “does not see the ruling as having a significant impact on our international publishing efforts.” 

“However, we generally agree with the concerns voiced by the AAP that current copyright law has not kept pace with the globalization of our industry or the impact of the Internet,” he said.

In his opinion, Justice Stephen Breyer said that once goods are sold lawfully, whether in the U.S. or elsewhere, publishers and manufacturers lose the protection of U.S. copyright law, AP reported.

“We hold that the `first sale’ doctrine applies to copies of a copyrighted work lawfully made abroad,” Breyer wrote.

The ruling was a major victory for eBay, Costco and other businesses that trade in products made outside the U.S., AP reported.

“To quote Justice Ginsburg’s dissenting opinion, the divided ruling is a ‘bold departure’ from Congress’ intention ‘to protect copyright owners against the unauthorized importation of low-priced, foreign-made copies of their copyrighted works’ that is made ‘more stunning’ by its conflict with current U.S. trade policy,” Allen said. “AAP expects that Congress will likely consider whether the impact of the court’s divided ruling on the ability of U.S. producers to effectively compete in global markets requires legislative clarification.”

Jossey-Bass, which publishes some religious and spiritual titles, is an imprint of Wiley. 

Forbes.com contributor Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, said the decision was “a major victory for American consumers because it allows them to shop worldwide for their copyrighted content.”

Motown Records and EMI Gospel partner for greater crossover potential

Motown Records and EMI Gospel have formed a joint venture partnership with the creation of the new Motown Gospel label. 

The first signing to Motown Gospel was GRAMMY winner CeCe Winans, whose new album is slated for early 2014. Along with Winans, the label will release albums this year by Tye Tribbett (Greater Than, June 4), Karen Clark Sheard and Smokie Norful. 

“UMG’s [Universal Music Group] acquisition of EMI Music offered the ideal opportunity to merge the EMI Gospel label with the strength of the newly revitalized Motown Records,” said Barry Weiss, chairman and CEO of UMG East Coast Label Group. “The new Motown Gospel label will offer broader urban AC crossover potential and further opportunities and synergy between Motown Gospel artists and the Motown and Island Def Jam (IDJ) urban roster.” 

Bill Hearn, president and CEO of Capitol Christian Music Group, added: “I’ve been a huge fan of Barry Weiss for years. Through his leadership of the Verity Label in the past, he’s been responsible for much of the growth and artist development in gospel music today. I can’t wait to partner with Barry, Motown through A&R collaboration, and promotion and marketing support from Steve Bartels and the amazing IDJ team. I’m confident Motown Gospel will now be even more effective at connecting our artists with their fans and growing their fan base.” 

Motown Gospel will headed by EMI Gospel President Ken Pennell, who will report to Hearn. Hearn reports directly to Capitol Music Group Chairman and CEO Steve Barnett. GRAMMY Award-winning songwriter/producer Aaron Lindsey, whose production credits include Marvin Sapp’s No. 1 gospel crossover hit “Never Would Have Made It,”  has been appointed vice president of A&R at Motown Gospel. 

The new label was officially launched April 2 at the Arc Theatre in Los Angeles with a gala press reception and artist showcase, featuring performances by Norful, Tribbett, Tasha Cobbs and Kierra Sheard. 

The Motown Gospel roster includes  Stellar Award-winning artists VaShawn Mitchell, Anita Wilson, Pastor Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago.

Music association’s main event moves to fall date, adds film category

The Gospel Music Association (GMA) has announced balloting changes for its 44th Annual GMA Dove Awards, which is taking place in the fall for the first time.

The association’s marquee event will be held Oct. 15 at Allen Arena on the campus of Nashville’s historic Lipscomb University, and will be nationally televised on GMC TV. 

In a letter sent to association members and posted on the organization’s website in April, GMA Executive Director Jackie Patillo wrote about “the most notable changes,” including the addition of three new categories to Dove Awards’ division one:  Contemporary Christian Performance of the Year; Southern Gospel Performance of the Year; and Gospel Performance of the Year. 

GMA has also added an Inspirational Film of the Year category to the awards in response to the rise of faith-based films.

“In an effort to place increased emphasis on our musical genres and broaden inclusion as well as meet industry standards, the following categories have been removed: Male Artist of the Year; Female Artist of the Year; Group of the Year,” Patillo wrote.

Additionally, several categories have been combined due to a lack of submissions. Urban Recorded Song of the Year, Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year have been merged to create Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year. Urban Album of the Year and Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year have also been merged to create Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album of the Year.  

The Artist of the Year category has also been revised to include artists on the first-round ballot who are top 20, highest-selling artists, according to SoundScan plus TEA (track equivalent album) sales. 

“While we know that these categories and processes will continue to evolve over the coming years, our greater goal is to create an excellent event that celebrates community and brings awareness to the hope that we possess,” Patillo wrote.

Dove nominees are scheduled to be announced Aug. 22. The event’s hosts and performers as well as Dove-related events will be announced in the coming months. 

GMA moved the Dove Awards back to Nashville after a two-year run in Atlanta, and switched the event from April to October.

Physical sales still account for two-thirds of total units sold in the category although digital growth continues

Christian music sales have seen a slight uptick as the entire music industry has posted its first revenue growth in 13 years.

“Overall, the Christian/gospel sales revenue has been relatively flat, with modest growth over the last two years,” Capitol Christian Distribution Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Greg Bays told Christian Retailing. “Revenues are generally up, with growth driven by audio and video streaming—including subscription services, which have grown considerably.”

Earlier this year, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) revealed that global revenues rose 0.3% in 2012 to $16.5 billion, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Although the revenue bump was modest, IFPI said that it was the first sign of industry growth since 1999. 

Another study from the NPD Group said that music file sharing declined “significantly” in 2012, noting a 26% drop in illegally downloaded music.

Bays said physical sales still account for two-thirds of total units sold in Christian music.

“So, as many others have noted, reports of the alleged death of the physical CD have been highly exaggerated,” said Bays, former chairman of the Christian Music Trade Association, which tracks the sales of Christian music. “Although growth in digital formats is expected to continue to outpace physical sales, there is still a lot of Christian/gospel music business to capture in the physical retail space.”

 Christian music had its best year on the Billboard 200 last year, with five Top 10 chart debuts, including albums by
TobyMac, David Crowder Band, Kari Jobe, Passion and Lecrae.  

 Bays noted that 2013 has started off with several Billboard 200 Top 10 debuts, including Chris Tomlin’s Burning Lights (sixstepsrecords), which debuted at No. 1 as did TobyMac’s Eye On It (ForeFront Records/Capitol) last year; Hillsong United’s Zion  (Hillsong Music/Capitol); and Passion: Let the Future Begin (sixstepsrecords/Capitol).

“In addition, Colton Dixon’s A Messenger [Sparrow Records/Capitol], delivered the best street-week sales for a contemporary Christian artist in SoundScan history,” Bays said. “With many other key releases coming across the industry throughout 2013, this should be yet another strong year.”

Gospel Music Association Executive Director Jackie Patillo said “we have every reason to be optimistic about where Christian music is heading.”

“More and more people are being exposed to Christian/gospel music than ever before,” she added. “In recent months, we have seen Red and Capitol Kings on Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show; Mandisa and TobyMac on Good Morning America; Jamie Grace, Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin and Israel Houghton on The View. Mary Mary continues to have strong ratings on their reality TV show. These are all vital signs and a testament of progress that we anticipate will continue in 2013.”

Baker Publishing Group, B&H Publishing Group and HarperCollins Christian Publishing among top companies at finalist stage

Winners of the 2013 Christian Retailing’s Best awards sponsored by Christian Retailing will be announced at the International Christian Retail Show in St. Louis. To enable retailers and suppliers to participate easily this year, the presentation, which will start Tuesday at 10 a.m., will be held at the Town Center Stage on the show’s exhibit floor.

Finalists were announced in April. Baker Publishing Group, with its various divisions, took 15 finalists spots, and B&H Publishing Group claimed 14. HarperCollins Christian Publishing weighed in with 22 finalists, combining Zondervan with 12 and Thomas Nelson with 10. 

Introduced in 2001 and formerly known as the Retailers Choice Awards, the awards have been increasingly acknowledged as an important way of recognizing some of the most significant new life-changing products in the Christian retail industry.

For a complete list of the 2013 finalists, visit the awards website at www.christianretailingsbest.com.

‘New York Times’ best-selling book seen as ‘a necessary book to carry’ at Christian retail

Nobody—not Gary Chapman, not the folks at Moody’s Northfield Publishing, not the booksellers—had any idea that Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts would see increased sales each year since its release in 1992. No one suspected that this book, Chapman’s third after Toward a Growing Marriage (1979) and Hope for the Separated (1982), would spend 296 weeks and counting on the New York Times best-seller list.

“The more people who read the book, the more they want to practice this simple but profound message, but they also want to gift it to friends and family members,” said Greg Thornton, senior vice president of media at Moody Bible Institute. “It defies all publishing logic that each year we’re selling more copies than the previous year.”

Chapman agrees. 

“I had no idea it would skyrocket like this,” he said. “But the simple message of The 5 Love Languages has potential to help people. It’s encouraging to see how the book has gone into the Christian community as well as the community at large.”

In fact, sales are nearing 8 million for the print, e-book, audio and gift editions of the title. These sales are happening in Christian retail stores, online and in places such as Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart and even airport bookstores. But it was Christian retail that was base camp for the ascent of The 5 Love Languages. 

“Christian retail was the focal point of the book; it was where the demand was created and grown,” said Steve Gemeiner, director of sales for Moody Publishers. “They all carry it, advertise it and put it in their catalogs. The 5 Love Languages is not just a nice book to carry; it’s a necessary book to carry. It’s probably one of the most widely asked-for books that Christian retail can carry.”

The book does exceptionally well during the Valentine’s Day season, said Gemeiner, in part because bookstores across the nation highlight it in their ads and stores, and catalogs feature it on the cover. Add to that the deep discounts Moody Publishers offers, and The 5 Love Languages takes on a life of its own at Christian retail stores.

Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Mich., has sold 805 copies in store and online since February, with 407 in that month alone. Store Manager Sue Smith bought 1,000 copies using the generous Moody discount, knowing the store would sell them all. Chapman’s appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s television network OWN in January didn’t hurt—the book jumped to No. 1 on Amazon after the show—but Smith believes it’s the book that sells itself.

“It’s a Christian book by a Christian author; it makes sense, it’s practical, easy to remember and apply,” she said. “That’s what makes it so popular. I know a lot of non-Christians who read it and understand it as well.”

Reaching beyond the Christian market was part of the plan back in 1992 when Moody launched its Northfield Publishing imprint. Trade retailers knew Moody Publishers’ books were religious and would almost automatically exclude them from their shelves. But Northfield books did not assume a working knowledge of Scripture by the reader, so books by personal finance author Larry Burkett and Chapman soon found their way onto trade retailer shelves. 

The 5 Love Languages was one of the first Northfield titles, with its genesis at Moody. Chapman had been doing marriage seminars for years, with the five love languages a section of each seminar. An editor suggested lifting out that part and making it into a book. Chapman still does those seminars, and the original The 5 Love Languages has birthed more than a dozen additional books and The Love Languages Devotional Bible released by Moody in late 2012. 

The 5 Love Languages for Children has sold nearly 1.2 million in all editions; The 5 Love Languages for Teens and Singles have sold more than 1 million combined. The 5 Love Languages of Apology has sold about 300,000, and was to be re-released in May with a new title, When Sorry Isn’t Enough.

While Chapman hasn’t pushed to expand the Love Languages brand, he is eager to meet needs when he sees them, as well as work with co-authors whose expertise is greater than his own. Paul White co-wrote The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace (2011, reissued in 2012), adding his knowledge of business to Chapman’s knowledge of relationships. Jocelyn Green, author of Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody, 2009), co-wrote The 5 Love Languages Military Edition to be released in September. Chapman speaks as often as he can on military bases, and the military has bought thousands of copies of The 5 Love Languages.

“The reason I’ve worked with co-writers is because they’ve had something to offer that I didn’t have,” said Chapman. “I don’t necessarily plan to write with a co-writer, but if it’s a topic that I find someone with more experience, I’ll do it. I haven’t had any bad experiences.”

The international market is also strong, with more than 2 million copies of The 5 Love Languages sold in 49 languages. The principles translate easily, said Moody’s Thornton, adding that “all cultures seem to understand and appreciate the five different ways of giving and receiving love.” In fact, The Love Languages Devotional Bible had its beginnings when a Brazilian publisher requested license to create such a Bible written in Portugese. That prompted Moody to consider an English version; the Portuguese version will come out in 2015.

Moody, via its Northfield Publishing imprint, is looking to the future of The 5 Love Languages brand. The company is talking to Chapman about other books and plans to refresh backlist titles with new content, editing and covers as needed. The publisher has also helped create The Gary D. Chapman Chair of Marriage and Family at Moody Theological Seminary with an eye toward training pastors and leaders on marriage principles.

“We at Moody are so pleased to be associated with Gary in this longstanding, deep partnership that is serving an area of great need in the church,” said Thornton. “It’s a big benefit to us when husbands and wives give and receive love and have stronger and healthier marriages.”

Chapman, 75, has no plans to retire. He’s coming off nearly two years as interim pastor at his home church, Calvary Baptist in Winston-Salem, N.C., and hopes for more time to write. He still does two or three radio interviews a week and about 20 conferences a year. 

“My energy level is high, and life is very full,” he said. “The biggest challenge is knowing what invitations to accept and which to decline.”

In the meantime, Christian retailers continue what they started almost 14 years ago: “What happens is a manager or whoever reads it and it helps in their own marriage,” said Chapman. “When people come into the store and ask for a book about marriage, that person says ‘The 5 Love Languages is the place to start.’ ”

Sue Smith of Baker Book House agrees. 

“We know he’ll be good and we know the publisher has done a good job marketing the books,” she said. “Gary Chapman still owns the love and marriage section after all this time.”

Grupo Nelson recently launched—and sold out—of the Spanish version of the award-winning Glo Bible, a first for the Thomas Nelson Spanish imprint.

In addition to five Bible translations and an atlas, Glo features more than 7,500 encyclopedia articles, 2,300 high-resolution photos, approximately 500 virtual tours of ancient biblical sites and 140 maps of the Holy Land.

Immersion Digital’s Glo was voted best in the Bible category in the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s annual Christian Book Awards in 2010—the first interactive digital Bible to win in the category. The Glo Bible is published by Zondervan, now a sister company to Nelson under the HarperCollins Christian Publishing umbrella.

“Zondervan took a smart, strategic risk when [it] originally launched the English version of Glo in 2010,” said Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. “The company discovered a consumer need. Grupo Nelson realized that the Spanish Bible market also had shown a digital shift and partnering with Immersion Digital ensured that we would be the first to meet the consumer demand.” 

The original Spanish Glo is for computers using a Windows-based system. In the next few months, the Spanish version of Glo will be made available for Mac and iOS devices.

Ralph P. Martin, Bible scholar and author of numerous studies and commentaries on the New Testament, died Feb. 25 in Southport, England. He was 88.

Martin was professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary and associate professor in biblical studies at the University of Sheffield. He also taught at the Graduate School of Theology of Azusa Pacific University.

Martin’s Carmen Christi dissertation established him as an authority on Phil. 2:5-11. In 1997, it was reissued by InterVarsity Press (IVP) as A Hymn of Christ. He also served as co-editor of IVP’s Dictionary of Paul and His Letters and Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments.

“Martin’s graciousness and moderation in dealing with sensitive issues of New Testament criticism is a model that calls for reflection and emulation in our increasingly polarized environment,” said IVP Senior Editor Dan Reid.

Among other titles, Martin wrote Philippians in the “Tyndale New Testament Commentaries” series (Tyndale House Publishers); and Mark: Evangelist and Theologian (Zondervan) and Worship in the Early Church (Wm. B. Eerdmans). He also served as editor of several titles in the “Word Biblical Commentary” set (Thomas Nelson).

Grateful for Martin’s “rich legacy,” Zondervan Editor in Chief Stan Gundry said he would be remembered “as a gentleman, a scholar and a true Christian brother.”