‘Electricity in the air’ for Gospel Music Association’s showcase event in Atlanta, says new leader

The new chairman of the Gospel Music Association (GMA) says the organization’s showcase event—held for the first time outside of Nashville—was a resounding success.

Mitchell Solarek told Christian Retailing that the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards, held April 20 at Atlanta’s historic Fox Theatre, was sold out, and attendance was up 50% from last year’s show. 

“From a press perspective, we have not had that kind of coverage as long I can remember,” said Solarek, who took over as chairman for Ed Leonard after his term ended in April. “It was great to drive into downtown Atlanta and see welcome banners hanging from street poles welcoming the Dove Awards. 

“The governor of Georgia attended the show,” added Solarek, president of Maximum Artist Management. “There was so much support from the city and state that you could feel the electricity in the air. … I could not have been happier with the results of the move to Atlanta this year.”

Chris August, Francesca Battistelli, Jason Crabb and Point of Grace were the big winners during the Dove Awards—pulling down three Doves apiece at the event.

For the second year in a row,  Battistelli took home Female Vocalist of the Year honors, and she also won the fan-voted Artist of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for “Beautiful, Beautiful.” Battistelli was the first female vocalist in 19 years to win the Artist of the Year.

“I’m on cloud nine right now,” Battistelli said after the show, the Associated Press reported. “I’m standing here ... speechless. This is totally humbling.” 

A first-time nominee, August was named New Artist of the Year and Male Artist of the Year, and was recognized with the Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for No Far Away (Fervent Records/Word Distribution). 

Crabb won Song of the Year for “Sometimes I Cry”; Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for “Joseph”; and Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” His father, Gerald Crabb, won Songwriter of the Year.

Point of Grace took home Country Album of the Year for No Changin’ Us (Word Records/Word); Christmas Album of the Year for Home for the Holidays (Word Records/Word); and Country Recorded Song of the Year for “There Is Nothing Greater Than Grace.”

For the second year in a row,
Needtobreathe won Group of the Year and Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for “Something Beautiful.”

Solarek said that the organization has not yet decided on the location for next year’s event. GMA has been trying to bounce back since the association experienced a financial crisis in 2009 that “threatened its very existence,” according to Leonard.

 GMA posted a profit last year for the first time in three years, reduced a total debt of $921,000 to a manageable amount and sold its Nashville facility for $697,000 in October 2010. 

In addition, the association will hire an executive director rather than a president, as part of a new management model. 

“The debt is significantly lower than what it was at this time last year,” Solarek said. “We are in a much more stable position than we have been in the past.”

Movie tie-in products from publishers and suppliers help propel growing Christian film industry

Led by Soul Surfer, a plethora of Christian-themed movies has been generating a buzz at the box office, while drawing mainstream media attention. 

Capitalizing on interest in the faith-based films, Christian publishers and suppliers have produced movie tie-in products, which are helping propel the growing Christian film industry.

Soul Surfer—the inspirational life story of surfer Bethany Hamilton, the Christian teen who had her left arm bitten off by a tiger shark—finished in the top five for its first two weekends after debuting in more than 2,000 theaters in April.

Heavily marketed to the faith-based community, the movie—which stars
AnnaSophia Robb as Bethany; Dennis Quaid as her father, Tom; Helen Hunt as Bethany’s mother, Cheri; and Carrie Underwood as church youth leader Sarah Hill—received mixed mainstream reviews, but an A-plus from CinemaScore’s moviegoer polling. The Orlando Sentinel noted that the film was “the best faith-based film ever made ... uplifting, entertaining and wonderfully acted.”

Distributed by Sony Pictures’ TriStar label and marketed by the studio’s faith-based division
Affirm Films and FilmDistrict, Soul Surfer—which had a production budget of $18 million—had made $30 million at the box office at press time.

Rated PG for an intense accident sequence and some thematic material, the film is based on Hamilton’s Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board (MTV Books), which was sold in some Christian bookstores.

Several Christian-themed products are tied to the movie, including Soul Surfer: Movie Edition (MTV Books) and Devotions for the Soul Surfer (Thomas Nelson). Zondervan has published Rise Above: A 90-Day Devotional, Soul Surfer Bible and Ask Bethany: FAQs: Surfing, Faith and Friends. 

Although some of the titles date back to 2007, “they have done well, and have been steady backlist sellers,” said Don Gates, vice president of marketing for trade books at Zondervan. “We expect to see renewed interest with the movie’s release.” 

Meanwhile, church resource organization Outreach released four products, including Soul Surfer Church Kit, Soul Surfer DVD Study, Soul Surfer Study Guide and Soul Surfer: Catching God’s Wave for Your Life—a nonfiction book for preteens and teens. In June, Regal Books is publishing Raising a Soul Surfer by Cheri Hamilton—the young Hamilton’s mother.

“We expect the Soul Surfer-themed products to do very well,” Outreach Director of Product Development Jennifer Dion told Christian Retailing. “With a cast that includes major stars, we expect Soul Surfer to have broad exposure and create demand for movie-themed products.”

Dion added that Outreach has sold more than 2.3 million products related to Fireproof—which made $33.3 million at the box office in 2008, despite a modest $500,000 budget.  

A  church-produced film like Fireproof, The Grace Card—a police drama featuring Academy Award winner Louis Gossett Jr. and a $450,000 production budget—made $2.4 million at the box office after seeing a limited theatrical release in February. It releases on DVD in August, and is available through Provident-Integrity Distribution.

Elsewhere, Jumping the Broom—scheduled to release in 2,000 theaters May 6, Mother’s Day weekend—was billed as “a lighthearted faith and family movie that cleverly addresses the cultural and spiritual challenges of abstinence, motherhood, family and relationships using comedy instead of a moral rod.” The movie stars Angela Bassett (Notorious, Meet the Browns), Paula Patton (Precious, Deja Vu), Laz Alonso (Just Wright, Avatar) and T.D. Jakes, pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas and best-selling author.

 Jumping the Broom is “not the type of film often considered ‘Christian,’ with a clear connection between a life change and a conversion of faith,” producers of the film said. “It is, however, an insightful study in relationships that comes from pastor (Jakes), who has observed people for many years.”

Also scheduled to release May 6, There Be Dragons—about Josemaria Escriva, founder of the Catholic Opus Dei movement and made by Roland Joffé, director of the Oscar-winning The Killing Fields and The Mission—was “a beautiful story” that “will resonate with the community of faith,” according to the film’s producers. 

Motive Entertainment, which developed resources for Mel Gibson’s The Passion of The Christ and the first two installments in “The Chronicles of Narnia” film series, released teaching and preaching materials tied to There Be Dragons.

Another on-the-way title is Jerusalem Countdown, based on the book by John Hagee (FrontLine/Charisma House) and to be released in August, starring David A.R White, Lee Majors, Stacy Keach, Jaci Velasquez and Randy Travis. 

Zondervan is releasing a movie tie-in edition to Seven Days in Utopia—which stars Robert Duvall and Melissa Leo, and is scheduled to hit theaters Aug. 12. The film is based on Golf’s Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia by David L. Cook, published in 2009.

Meanwhile, Doonby, starring John Schneider and Jennifer O’Neill, is scheduled to be released in September. Described as a cross between It’s a Wonderful Life and Crazy Heart, the film tells the story of a Sam Doonby (Schneider), “who comes to a small town and turns it upside down with his revelations,” the film’s producers said.  

Releasing in theaters Sept. 30, Courageous is the widely anticipated follow-up from the makers of the hit movie Fireproof—a top-selling DVD at Christian retail since it was released in January 2009. 

Debbie Woodard, co-owner of Bethany Book & Gift in Baxter, Minn., saw the movie at one of its preview screenings for retailers and was “very impressed,” she told Christian Retailing. “We’ve told our staff that we expect the impact to be at least as powerful as Fireproof was. … We have begun a ‘waiting list’ of people that want to purchase the DVD.”

Tyndale House Publishers will publish the novelization of Courageous. Based on the screenplay by Alex and Stephen Kendrick, Courageous: A Novel—to be released in August—will be written by Randy Alcorn. The film addresses fatherhood through the lives of four police officers.

A plot device in Fireproof, the Kendricks’ The Love Dare (B&H Books/B&H Publishing Group)—published in 2008 in paperback and in imitation leather in 2009—and their The Love Dare Day by Day devotional and wedding edition have sold more than 4 million copies internationally. 

Big Idea has expanded licensing for its popular VeggieTales brand, introducing a new crop of merchandise. 

The company recently signed deals with several new partners for products, including floor and tabletop cardboard play sets from Box Creations; “GigglePOD” interactive kid’s video booths from Primary Leisure Global; removable wall art from Brewster Home Fashions; children’s furniture from Golden Chair; and karaoke CDs from DayWind Music. The new products will hit retail shelves starting this summer, Big Idea officials said.

Big Idea also recently added licensing partnerships with American Puzzle Company (wooden puzzles and trains); Zoobies (plush pillow character and blanket combinations); Tabbies (index tabs, stickers, temporary tattoos and wall clings); and Victory Designs (children’s guitars). 

Additionally, VeggieTales has been licensed to Enesco and its Gund and Gregg Gift divisions (plush toys and gifts); Dynamic Displays (parade and event inflatables); Talicor (puzzles and games); Kids Stuff Marketing (regional and catalog products); Cranston (cotton fabrics); ConAgra (fruit snacks); and Northwest Company (bedding, blankets and throws).

Despite the disappointing box-office tally of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Walden Media is looking to produce The Magician’s Nephew as the fourth film in the franchise based on C.S. Lewis’ beloved children’s fantasy novels. The sixth book in Lewis’ seven-title series, The Magician’s Nephew is a prequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, telling the story of the creation of Narnia and how evil entered into the magical land.   ?

Performing rights organization Broadcast Music Inc. honored the writers and publishers of last year’s most-performed 

Christian songs on U.S. radio and TV during its annual Christian Music Awards, held April 4 in Nashville. For the second consecutive year, TobyMac (right) was recognized as Songwriter of the Year along with Southern gospel’s Rodney Griffin and Needtobreathe’s Bo Rinehart. Written by Scott Krippayne and was recorded by Kutless, “What Faith Can Do” was named Song of the Year.   ?

David Wilkerson—pastor and author of the 1963 best-seller The Cross and the Switchblade (Chosen Books/Baker Publishing Group), which helped launch the charismatic-publishing market—died in a car crash in East Texas on April 27. Wilkerson, 79, was founder and senior pastor of Times Square Church in New York City. He authored more than 30 books, but was best known for The Cross and the Switchblade, which has sold more than 15 million copies, and introduced readers to the struggles of inner-city youth recruited by gangs.  ?

Due to “significant response” to Ann Voskamp’s recently released New York Times best-selling memoir, One Thousand Gifts, Zondervan and the author have launched www.OneThousandGifts.com to give readers a place to share their everyday gifts as they count their way to 1,000. In One Thousand Gifts, Voskamp explores what it is to “fully live” —delving into Jesus’ earthly life, taking bread and giving thanks.

Former employee and his sons take over at Wellspring Christian Resources

 There is new two-generation ownership of a long-standing independent Christian store.

John Desaulniers Jr. and his two sons, Joseph and Wesley, have taken over Wellspring Christian Resources in Urbandale, Iowa, from Bev Channell and her daughter, Kelly Maigaard. The two women had bought the former Boone’s Book and Bible Store—which dates back to 1943—17 years ago.

The purchase marks a  return to the store for Desaulniers, who worked there for four years until 2004, when he joined B&H Publishing Group as a sales representative. He lost his job there last fall in a downsizing move.

Channell said that the decision to sell the store followed the death of her husband in 2009 and Maigaard’s sickness, which had left her unable to work for more than a year. “We firmly believe that God led us into it, led us through some great times and some not-so-good times, and now we can see His hand in leading us out,” Channell told Christian Retailing.

“We feel very blessed that John came on the scene as I was proactively planning to pursue the sale. ... He is a good friend and he has a passion for the independent bookstore.”

Desaulniers is general manager, while Joseph and Wesley—with whom he formed limited company Aldertree Enterprises for the purchase—oversee sales and human resources and operations, respectively.

With stints at Moody Bookstore in Chicago and the former Riverside Distributors during his near-30 years in the industry, Desaulniers said that he was aware of, but undaunted by the challenges facing independent Christian retailers.

Music sales were rebounding through in-store burning, and statistics on readers of e-books suggested that they reading more and still enthusiastic about print books, he said. “A lot of it really comes down to customer service, and the people we have in the store are passionate about what we do. We are not just doing this as just a job, but we love the Christian products industry.”

Staff numbers have been cut by half due to the takeover. Desaulniers has also dropped his Parable marketing group membership and plans to fulfill online orders in-store. He and his sons plan an emphasis on local marketing, reaching out to churches in the area and reintroducing an emphasis on home-school materials.

“For the last six years with B&H, I was in stores, and I saw how other stores were doing this,” he said. “I’m taking a lot of that expertise of my former B&H customers and trying to bring it in-house here.” 

Wesley Desaulniers said that he was pleased to be working together with family members. “We have always been close, and in this, we are able to know what are the strengths and weaknesses of our business partners already and we know how to work off of each other well,” he said. “It also gives security that all of the members of the ownership have the same vision for growing the business for longevity.”

‘The Shack’ and ‘A Christmas Snow’ are repurposed for theater-goers with experimental events

William P. Young’s best-selling novel, The Shack, has been brought to the stage in an experimental event exploring new ways of bringing books to life.

Due to premiere in May ahead of a potential wider release, Stories From the Shack was to feature music, dance, sand painting, aerial artistry and comments from Young and some of the readers whose lives have been touched by his novel. The two-hour presentation, featuring audience interaction, was described as “sort of a mash-up of Cirque du Soleil meets Charlie Rose,” by co-producer Jim Henderson.

Meanwhile, A Christmas Snow, one of the best-selling inspirational DVDs of the 2010 holiday season, is due to come to life at The Starlite Theatre in Branson, Mo., for a two-month run from Nov. 1.

The three lead cast members from the Destiny Image Films release—including Catherine Mary Stewart (Days of Our Lives)—are to reprise their roles in the production, which tells how “the storm of the century brings the gift of a lifetime.”

The first release from Destiny Image Publishers’ new movie venture, A Christmas Snow sold around 75,000 copies in the six-week Christmas selling season, beating sales projections, said Joel Nori, director of the film division. 

There was a simultaneous release of a novelization of the film by Jim Stovall, co-executive producer; an audio edition of the book; a music soundtrack; and a journal, Restored, which relates to a journal kept by one of the characters in the film.

Stories From the Shack was inspired by the 100,000-plus emails Young received from people who had been impacted by The Shack (Windblown Media/Hachette Book Group), which has sold more than 20 million copies, Henderson said. “I realized that it was not just a book, it was a phenomenon,” he told Christian Retailing.

The production was to debut in Seattle, May 8, with performances also scheduled for San Diego (May 20); Boise, Idaho (June 4) and Denver (June 17). Henderson said that if the four shows—with a budget of around $500,000—were successful, a longer tour could follow.

Co-producing Stories From the Shack with Henderson—whose own books include Jim & Casper Go to Church: Frank Conversation About Faith, Churches, and Well-Meaning Christians (BarnaBooks/Tyndale House Publishers)—was James Rubart, president and CEO of Barefoot Marketing and author of Rooms (B&H Books/B&H Publishing Group).

Mark Schoenwald named CEO as Michael Hyatt steps aside

A leadership change at Thomas Nelson is set to take the world’s largest Christian publisher further beyond the printed page.

New CEO Mark Schoenwald intends to broaden the diversification begun under his predecessor, Michael Hyatt, who remains chairman of the board and will continue to represent the company in an ambassadorial role.

“We really no longer see ourselves as a book publisher,” Schoenwald, 49, said after the announcement of his April promotion from chief operating officer. “We are really a content provider and want to deliver it in any format our consumers desire.”

Schoenwald, who retains the president’s title he previously held, cited Nelson’s live events and its digital publishing initiatives as ways in which the company was moving beyond traditional publishing, but said that it remained committed to the Christian retail channel. 

“We have deployed by far the most resources in that area and will continue to do so,” he said. “We have learned over time that our strength is the core Christian content. When we get outside of that and try to become something we are not, we really lose our competitive edge.”

For Hyatt, launching Nelson into
e-books and social media was one of the five most significant accomplishments of his near-six years as CEO. The leadership timing for the transition was good, he said, with the company’s fiscal year having closed recently with 6% growth over the previous 12 months.

While part of that was due to the runaway success of Todd Burpo’s Heaven is for Real, with more than a million copies sold, other areas—including children’s books, gift books and Bibles—had seen significant growth too, said Schoenwald.

Formerly an executive with home décor, garden and gift companies, Schoenwald joined Nelson in 2005 as chief sales officer. During the time he rose behind the scenes in the organization—becoming president and COO in 2009—Hyatt was taking an increasingly more public profile as a blogger and speaker. He also served as chairman of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA), 2007-2010.

“While I intend to continue the strong focus and discipline in regard to running the business, I will be more visible externally at industry events,” said Schoenwald. Hyatt said that his future plans include writing books, likely to be published by Nelson, and “pursuing other business interests.”

Under his leadership, the Nashville-based publisher, publicly traded since 1969, went private in 2006 in a sale to InterMedia
Partners. The same year, the company acquired Integrity Publishers and sold off its Cool Springs Press gardening imprint. 

In 2007, Hyatt took Nelson through a major reorganization, scrapping its 21 imprints in favor of the Thomas Nelson banner with separate divisions for Bibles, Christian and general trade books. 

On the grounds that the event was not worth the big investment, the company stopped exhibiting at the International Christian Retail Show in 2008—though its remainder and international interests continue to have a presence—and instead held an Open House for its top retail accounts in Nashville. Originally envisioned as an annual event, it has not been repeated to date.