Contact:
Tara Powers, Brian Burch
(616) 233-0500
tpowers@lambert-edwards.com
bburch@lambert-edwards.com
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 29, 2008 – Zondervan, a world leader in Christian communications, was recently honored with three awards for its groundbreaking audio Bible, Inspired By…The Bible Experience. The company received a prestigious EFFIE award, the marketing industry’s highest global honor, for the successful launch of Inspired By…The Bible Experience. In addition, the project received two Audie Awards at a ceremony during the Audio Publishers Association Conference in Los Angeles.
As a Bronze EFFIE winner in the New Product or Service category, Zondervan’s marketing campaign The Bible has a Voice [LISTEN], which launched Inspired By…The Bible Experience, is considered to be one of the most strategic and creative examples of how a brand can successfully connect with customers. The EFFIE Award recognizes marketing effectiveness among American businesses. Criteria for the EFFIE Award include not only visual and creative measures, but also a campaign's ability to produce outstanding results in the marketplace.
Inspired By… The Bible Experience also received two Audie awards, the most prestigious honor in the audio book industry, by the Audio Publishers Association (APA). The awards recognize the audio books that made the greatest impact on the audio publishing industry. Inspired By… The Bible Experience (Old Testament) won in two out of the four categories for which it was nominated—Inspirational/Spiritual and Multi-Voiced Performance. This marks the second consecutive year Inspired By… The Bible Experience has received Audies honors. In 2007, the New Testament version won two Audie Awards plus the top honor of Audio Book of the Year.
“We continue to be amazed at the reception The Bible Experience has received from consumers all across the country and throughout the world, and we feel blessed to receive these awards for a project we are so proud of,” said Moe Girkins, president and CEO of Zondervan. “Our hope is it will continue to impact people’s hearts, minds and spirits and bring the Word of God to life in a way they’ve never experienced before.”
Inspired By…The Bible Experience is currently the most successful audio Bible available and Zondervan’s fastest selling Bible. Worldwide sales have achieved more than 700,000 units to date in all formats, including audio CD, MP3 CD, and MP3 download.
Inspired By…The Bible Experience (www.zondervan.com/tbe) was produced by Inspired By Media Group and features the voice talent of nearly 400 African-American actors, musicians, and religious leaders. Notable personalities include Forest Whitaker, Denzel Washington, Blair Underwood, Angela Bassett, Kirk Franklin and Bishop T.D. Jakes. In addition to dramatic performances of the entire biblical text by leading artists and celebrities, the product also features Hollywood-style sound design created at Technicolor Studios and an original musical underscore featuring performances by the Prague Symphony Orchestra.
Zondervan, a
HarperCollins company, is a world leader in Christian communications and the leading Christian publishing brand. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general and academic resources by influential leaders and emerging voices, and been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with offices in San Diego and Miami, Zondervan conducts events and publishes its bestselling
Bibles,
books,
audio,
video,
curriculum,
software, and
digital products through its
Zondervan,
eZondervan,
Zonderkidz,
Youth Specialties,
Editorial Vida, and
National Pastors Convention brands. Zondervan resources are sold worldwide through retail stores, online, and by
Zondervan ChurchSource, and are translated into nearly 200 languages in more than 60 countries. Visit Zondervan on the Internet at
www.zondervan.com (mobile site:
zvan.mobi).