Publishing giant distributes Women of Faith brand ‘to fill the void of a diminishing industry’

Hoping to fill a void, the world’s largest Christian book publisher has ventured into the music business.

The May 25 releases Women of Faith Worship, Hope and Grace and Sheila Walsh’s I Hear Angels marked the first time Thomas Nelson distributed music from its conference brand. Women of Faith Worship features 10 tracks from the WoF worship team, while Hope and Grace is a compilation disc of singles from artists involved in the conferences, including Mandisa, Steven Curtis Chapman and Natalie Grant. The CDs retail for $13.99 each.

The company purchased WoF in 2000, and has reported that the events—which also include Revolve teen conferences—comprise 20% of its annual operating budget.

Tom Knight, Nelson’s senior vice president of Christian retail sales and ministry development group, credited the strength of a “robust” sales team—with backgrounds in publishing, retail and music—in making the decision to distribute music.

“We understand Christian retail and … are well-qualified to help fill the void left by a diminishing music industry, especially as it relates to sales to Christian retail and independent bookstores,” he said.

Before the new recording—for which Nelson was working towards an iTunes agreement—WoF projects were distributed by Integrity Music and more recently by Word Distribution. The brand’s most recent recording—A Grand New Day, distributed by Word—was nominated for two Dove Awards this year.

Vance Lawson, chief service officer for Nelson, said the new venture would help the company keep better control of its WoF music brand.

“In addition to distribution, these companies also owned and controlled the records released during the distribution agreements,” he told Christian Retailing. “And they served us well. But over the last year, the Women of Faith team would like to begin creating intellectual properties that they could own and control.”

Gospel Music Association Chairman and Daywind Music Group President Ed Leonard applauded Nelson’s move.

“It’s great whenever a big company gets involved in the music business,” said Leonard, a CBA board member. “They’ll add a lot to the music enviornment.”

The music distribution extends beyond WoF as well. Knight said the publisher is “open to discussion with labels as to sales, retail marketing and distribution” of Nelson products.