Contemporary Christian music group Newsboys has reportedly been dropped by its record label, Capitol Christian Music Group, after recent allegations of sexual assault and drug and alcohol abuse were brought against the group’s former lead singer, Michael Tait.
In a video taken during the group’s performance at Elevate Music Festival at Highlands Church in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Sunday (June 22), Newsboys bandmember Adam Agee told members of the audience, “We’ve been dropped from our record label. We’ve had radio stations pull our music. We’ve been canceled by promoters and venues all over the world.”
Agee was joined onstage by his fellow bandmates Jody Davis, Jeff Frankenstein and Duncan Phillips as they addressed the fallout that the band has experienced in the weeks since.
“A few weeks ago, our world was rocked by the devastating news about what…that confession and what that double life really was,” Agee said. “We were shocked because in January, he had mentioned a few things about substance abuse, and some personal struggles he was having at home when he wasn’t on the road, but never anything of the magnitude of what we read and what was reported and never anything, ever, just anything that could have ever made us think that he could possibly be a danger to others or anything like that.”
Agee added, “He was our brother…he was a friend to our families…it just has been devastating for us. Our families have felt like our names [have] been dragged through the mud because of all this, and it’s really, really hurt our kids.”
Representatives for Capitol Christian Music Group have not responded to Billboard‘s request for comment. For the label, the group released the albums Stand in 2021, World Wide Revival Pt. 1 in 2024, and World Wide Revival (Deluxe) in May.
Tait abruptly exited the band in January, just before the group’s Worldwide Revival Tour dates for 2025 were set to begin. Earlier this month, The Roys Report issued the result of what it called a more than two-year investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse, along with drug and alcohol abuse, that had been brought against Tait. That report included accounts from three people, each claiming that Tait groomed and sexually assaulted them while on tour or at Tait’s home. The accusers alleged that the incidents took place between 2004 and 2014, while the report cited other sources that claimed Tait had also been involved in drug use.
The Newsboys issued a statement on June 4 regarding the allegations against Tait, urging others who have been impacted to come forward and saying, “We are horrified, heartbroken and angry at this report and in many ways, we feel as if we and our families have been deceived for the past fifteen years.”
On June 10, Tait broke his silence with a lengthy Instagram post in which he said, “Recent reports of my reckless and destructive behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse and sexual activity, are sadly, largely true. For some two decades, I used and abused cocaine, consumed far too much alcohol, and, at times, touched men in an unwanted sensual way. I am ashamed of my life choices and actions, and make no excuses for them. I will simply call it what God calls it– sin. I don’t blame anyone or anything but myself. While I might dispute certain details in the accusations against me, I do not dispute the substance of them.”
Tait also said in the statement that after his departure from Newsboys, he spent six weeks at a treatment center in Utah.
This month, The Guardian also published the results of a separate investigation in which multiple persons also came forward with allegations of sexual abuse.
Following the allegations, some radio stations, including CCM radio giant K-LOVE, pulled Newsboys’ music from their rotations, with a representative for K-LOVE telling Billboard in a statement, “We are aware of the allegations against Michael Tait, former frontman of the Newsboys. As the investigation proceeds, our thoughts and prayers are with all those involved. There are many factors that go into radio programming decisions, including the curation of playlists. At this time, there are no Newsboys songs in our rotation. We have rested Newsboys and DC Talk from our decades’ streams online.”
Last week, CCM festival Kingdom Bound announced that the group Passion would be replacing Newsboys on its festival lineup. In a statement on Instagram, organizers for the festival stated, “In recent weeks, concerns have come to light regarding allegations surrounding The Newsboys. After prayerful reflection and discussion, our team, alongside our Board of Directors, has made the decision to move in a different direction from the band for this year’s festival. While these situations are never easy, our heart is to create a space that honors Christ and encourages every person who walks through our gates. We ask that you join us in praying for everyone affected, as well as for the band during this time.”
