Christian stores sales saw an increase of 2.9% in 2013 over 2012, according to the 2014 CBA State of the Industry Report released this week, but consumer buying patterns shifted dramatically in 2013, according to the Christian retail association.

Fourth-quarter 2013 sales were down 6.9% in 2013, but sales were up in the second and third quarters, 12.6% and 8.8%, respectively, according to data from CBA’s CROSS:SCAN sales reporting service. CBA noted several factors affecting sales: earlier shopping for Christmas, economic uncertainty and limited fourth-quarter product-release performance.

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) honored the songwriters and publishers of Christian music’s most-performed songs of the past year at the 36th annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards. Matthew West won both of the top songwriter awards this year, while industry legends Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant received special career honors.

At the May 5 event held at the historic Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tenn., ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams presented songwriter-artists Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith with a special award in honor of ASCAP’s 100th anniversary. The ASCAP-commissioned short film, “Why We Create Music,” featuring Grant among many other notable members from across all genres, was screened at the event to commemorate ASCAP’s centennial.

Midwest-CBK, national designer and manufacturer of seasonal and everyday gifts as well as home and outdoor décor, has introduced Beautiful Soul, an inspirational brand featuring six distinct styles from six renowned artists: Susan Black, Jenn McGlon, Jessica Swift, Crystal Kluge, Kristin Allen and Amylee Weeks.

Beautiful Soul features more than 200 gift items designed to inspire and celebrate personal growth, love, family, friends, home, nature and faith. Designs incorporate inspiring words, phrases and icons such as crosses, angels, birds, trees, botanicals and hearts applied in unique combinations.

If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of people who have downloaded the Charisma News smartphone app for iPhone or Android, we have good news. Our breaking Christian news app, which also includes the mobile Christian Retailing news channel, is getting a major upgrade in the next couple of weeks.

While we work to offer an improved experience on our app—which provides you with up-to-the-minute Christian product industry news on your smartphone as well as general Christian news, spiritual insights from respected Christian leaders like Joyce Meyer, R.T. Kendall and J. Lee Grady, and spiritual growth teachings, study resources and more—you may experience some glitches. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.

Hoping to capitalize on the recent success of faith-based films, Hollywood has plans for the best-selling novel The Shack (Windblown Media/Hachette Book Group) to hit the big screen.

Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker will direct The Shack adaptation, and it will reportedly star Oprah Winfrey and British actor Idris Elba. Whitaker may also play a supporting role in the film.

News Corp announced May 2 that it has agreed to acquire Harlequin Enterprises from media company Torstar Corp. Harlequin will become a division of HarperCollins Publishers, a News Corp subsidiary, and will remain headquartered in Toronto.

As one of the world's leading publishers of women's fiction, Harlequin has issued titles in 34 languages and in over 100 international markets. The acquisition will extend HarperCollins' global platform, particularly in Europe and Asia Pacific, and is expected to accelerate the digital evolution of both companies.

The collaborative publishing effort of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild, Believers Press, Bethany Press and Anchor Distributors—1Source—launches its first releases May 6.

The 1Source novels in the initial release are: Hallowed Halls by Hannah Alexander (pen name of Cheryl and Mel Hodde), Sidetracked by Brandilyn Collins, Passing Strangers by Angela Hunt, Child’s Play by Bill Myers and Twice a Slave by Sammy Tippit with Randy Willis.