Memorial Day weekend sales are expected to be biggest ever, according to two surveys by America's Research Group (ARG).

Britt Beemer, chairman and founder of ARG, known for his Christian retail channel studies, estimated that shopping levels will exceed 35% compared to 2011.

"Spending levels will depend on the sale offers and the discounts when shoppers get into the stores," he said. "Those retailers who offer early-bird specials and open early on Memorial Day—yes, a la Black Friday—will see the best sales and the highest spending levels. The closer you come to creating Black Friday, the better your sales will be."

Two ARG surveys in late March and late April found that the number of Americans delaying their shopping to Memorial Day weekend is at an all-time high. Just over 6% of shoppers in March and 21% in April reported that they are delaying their shopping plans until Memorial Day weekend. A year ago, less than 3% of shoppers in March and only 11% of shoppers in April waited until Memorial Day.

"For the first time, Memorial Day weekend is scheduled to be the biggest in our 33-year survey history," Beemer said.

Multi-platinum band Casting Crowns was named Top Christian Artist, and the group's Come to the Well (Beach Street Records/Provident Distribution) was honored as the Top Christian Album during the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, held last night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Laura Story's No. 1 hit Blessings (Fair Trade Services/Provident) was named Top Christian Song.

Other Top Christian Artist finalists were Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, Skillet and Laura Story. Other finalists for Top Christian Album were Until the Whole World Hears by Casting Crowns; Awake by Skillet; Blessings by Laura Story; and Wow Hits 2012.

Other finalists for Top Christian Song were "Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)" by Casting Crowns; "Hold Me" by Jamie Grace; "Stronger" by Mandisa; and "Strong Enough" by Matthew West.

Click here for the complete list of 2012 Billboard Music Awards winners.

Messianic rabbi Jonathan Cahn's The Harbinger continues at No. 1 on the Top 10 Fiction best-sellers list, while residing at No. 7 on the Top 20 General list from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). Cahn's prophetic vision for America has spent 18 weeks on the New York Times Print Paperback list since its January release. The list from ECPA tracks sales for the week ending May 12, according to Pubtrack Christian data.

The Top 20 General best-sellers are: 1. The Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian (Harvest House Publishers); 2. Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, hardcover (Thomas Nelson); 3. Heaven Is for Real, Todd Burpo (Thomas Nelson); 4. Jesus Calling: Large Print Deluxe Edition, Young (Thomas Nelson); 5. Dear Jesus, Young, hardcover (Thomas Nelson); 6. One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp (Zondervan); 7. The Harbinger, Jonathan Cahn (FrontLine/Charisma House Book Group); 8. Jesus Calling: Deluxe Edition, Young (Thomas Nelson); 9. The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman (Northfield Publishing); 10. Loving, "Bailey Flanigan Series," No. 4, Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan); 11. The Fiddler, "Home to Hickory Hollow," No. 1, Beverly Lewis (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group); 12. Not a Fan, Kyle Idleman (Zondervan); 13. The Story, Max Lucado and Randy Frazee (Zondervan); 14. Nearing Home, Billy Graham (Thomas Nelson); 15. Twelve Extraordinary Women, John MacArthur (Thomas Nelson); 16. Kingdom Man, Tony Evans (Tyndale House Publishers); 17. Bonhoeffer, Eric Metaxas (Thomas Nelson); 18. The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson (Zondervan); 19. Crazy Love, Francis Chan (David C Cook); and 20. Same Kind of Different as Me, Ron Hall, Denver Moore (Thomas Nelson).

The Top 10 Fiction best-sellers are: 1. The Harbinger; 2. Loving, Kingsbury (Zondervan); 3. The Fiddler, Lewis (Bethany House); 4. The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club, Wanda E. Brunstetter (Barbour Publishing); 5. Illusion, Frank Peretti (Howard Books); 6. Her Mother's Hope, "Marta's Legacy," No. 1, Francine Rivers (Tyndale House Publishers); 7. Redeeming Love, Francine Rivers (Multnomah Books); 8. Her Daughter's Dream, "Marta's Legacy Series" No. 2, Rivers (Tyndale House Publishers); 9. Longing, "Bailey Flanigan Series" No. 3, Kingsbury (Zondervan); and 10. Downfall, "Intervention," No. 3, Terri Blackstock (Zondervan).

The top five Bibles are: 1. The Story, hardcover, New International Version (Zondervan); 2. God Sightings: The One Year Bible, New Living Translation (Tyndale House Publishers); 3. The Story: Teen Edition, NIV, softcover (Zondervan); 4. NIV Thinline Bible, black bonded leather (Zondervan); and 5. The Message Remix Solo, softcover (NavPress).

Abbey Press has been named one of five 2011 Gift Suppliers of the Year by the North American Celtic Trade Association (NACTA). The company received a certificate citing the achievement at the Ireland Show Secaucus held April 21-24 in Secaucus, N.J.

In light of Abbey Press’ increased offerings of Irish-themed giftware, the company was recognized for “outstanding product development and customer service.”

CBA has announced a new sponsor model for the third annual Christian Store Week (CSW), naming World Vision as the ministry partner for the nationwide effort in the fall to raise awareness of Christian stores and drive traffic.

World Vision's participation the 11-day campaign—running Sept. 28-Oct. 8—will focus on raising awareness and supporting relief efforts for local food assistance across the nation. CSW will feature an enhanced compilation CD, which will be sold exclusively through Christian stores. The EMI CMG-produced compilation will feature authors, artists and partner companies, who are all donating royalties, fees and commissions for the CD. Proceeds will benefit World Vision food programs. In the past two years, CSW has raised more than $100,000 through benefit CDs, which benefitted Christian relief programs.

The new sponsorship model will enable any Christian supplier to participate."CBA heard from suppliers that they want to help Christian stores succeed and to help drive new traffic and increase sales," Curtis Riskey, CBA executive director, said. "This year, any Christian-product supplier may sponsor Christian Store Week with virtually all sponsorship proceeds going to fund consumer advertising (to promote the CD).

“Last year, many independent retailers built local food assistance outreach during this time that proved very successful both in ministry and in business,” Riskey added. “We are planning to provide simpler ways for retailers to accomplish outreach and church connection this year.”

The project would help retailers not only partner with local agencies and churches for food assistance, but initiate community ministry through the store to help those in need, CBA said.

Click here for more information and retailer registration for Christian Store Week.

Artists Aretha Franklin, Ricky Skaggs, Dallas Holm, The Hoppers, Love Song and televangelist Rex Humbard, who supported gospel music with his media ministry, are scheduled to be inducted Aug. 14 into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the GMA Foundation (GMAF) announced.

A new YouTube channel from Zondervan affords readers access to nearly 100 video-based Bible study sessions from leading authors such as New York Times best-selling authors Tim Keller and Lysa TerKeurst. Users will also be able to browse first chapters from more than 150 audiobook titles and share them through social media, including Facebook and Twitter.