Former Word Label Group President Barry Landis is joining Howard Books as vice president, associate publisher, effective Jan. 17.

“I am delighted to have someone of Barry’s caliber join our team” said Jonathan Merkh, vice president and publisher. “He brings a wealth of not only marketing and industry knowledge, but is a visionary and will help us take Howard to new heights.”

Two online video libraries that can help Christian retailers sell more books have expanded their offerings. 

As ChristianBookVideos.com prepares to mark its third anniversary next month, it has just posted its 1,500th Christian book trailer at the site, while Christian Retailing has added around 50 more contributors to its growing Author Corner service.

Christian recording artists made a strong showing on Billboard magazine’s listings reflecting on the year in music for 2011.

Casting Crowns landed on the Billboard 200 Artists list at No. 55, while gospel artist Kirk Franklin came in at No. 63 and rockers Skillet at No. 98.

Skillet also saw its Awake release on the Billboard 200 Albums list at No. 121, while Casting Crowns made two appearances there, at No. 137 with Until the Whole World Hears and at No. 190 with Come to the Well.

Missionary Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling devotional (Thomas Nelson) has now sold more than 2.5 million units worldwide, and Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell’s The 5 Love Languages of Children (Northfield Publishing/Moody Publishers) has exceeded 1 million copies sold.

In addition, the Jesus Calling brand of titles, including Jesus Calling for Kids and the Jesus Calling Devotional Bible, has sold more than 3.5 million units, reported Thomas Nelson.

A Christian artist whose song received an unexpected boost from a hit YouTube video got to meet the young girl behind the video in a touching live television broadcast on CNN.

The YouTube video features the 7-year-old who was taped by her mother as she performed Battistelli’s “Angel by Your Side” song at the hospital where she was undergoing chemo treatment. The song is featured on the Dove Award-winning singer’s 2011 album, Hundred More Years (Fervent Records/Word Distribution).

A book warning of God’s impending judgment on America has gone to a second reprint within days of release, to keep up with demand.

Two additional 50,000-copy print runs of The Harbinger have been ordered by Charisma House since the book by Messianic rabbi Jonathan Cahn—which ties events since 9/11 to a prophecy in Isaiah 9—came out Tuesday. The book rose to number eight on Amazon’s best-seller list Wednesday after Cahn appeared on CBN’s The 700 Club to tell host Pat Robertson about his message.

Todd Burpo, Sarah Young and Billy Graham have become common names on the weekly Top 20 General best-sellers list from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) with the Thomas Nelson authors topping the list tracking sales for the week ending Dec. 31, according to Pubtrack Christian data.