Matthew West emceed CBA's New Artist Showcase Luncheon yesterday at the International Christian Retail Show in Denver. West led the crowd in prayer and a worship chorus before introducing the event's main speaker, Julie Clark.

Clark, who invented the Baby Einstein brand before selling it to Disney, recently launched “The Safe Side,” a line of children's safety videos distributed by EMI CMG. John Walsh of America's Most Wanted co-founded the line, having suffered the abduction and murder of his own son.

Having no business experience when she started her first line, Clark spoke of how independent bookstores became one of her greatest allies. The independents, particularly specialty shops, offered her support “mass retailers could not,” she said.

“The success of the two brands in your stores speaks to me because you care about babies, and you care about families,” Clark said. The next “Safe Side” video launches this fall and concerns Internet safety.

At the luncheon, singer/songwriter Brandon Heath sang from his debut album Don't Get Comfortable (Reunion Records), which releases Sept. 19.

GospoCentric Records/Zomba Gospel group 21:03 led the crowd in upbeat gospel songs “The Power of Christ” and “Dance,” from the group's self-titled debut, releasing next week.

Other performers at the event included Shannon Wexelberg (Discovery House Music/CNI Distribution), who has been featured with The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and Paul Baloche, and Slanted Records' band DecembeRadio.

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