Christian Rock Group Newsboys Reportedly Dropped From Their Label

This article mentions sexual assault and abuse. If you or someone you know is affected by these experiences and needs to contact someone, please contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.

The Christian rock group, Newsboys, have been reportedly dropped from their record label after lead singer Michael Tait confessed to allegations of grooming and sexually assaulting young men earlier this month.

Newsboys, founded by Peter Furler and George Perdikis in Mooloolaba, Queensland, in 1985, has gone from humble beginnings in Australia to Nashville, Tennessee. Perdikis left the band in 1987, before the release of their first album, while Furler left and then returned on multiple occasions, departing the group for good in 2021.

The group currently consists of Adam Agee, Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein and Jody Davis.

Tait was the lead vocalist of Newsboys from 2009 until January of this year. Earlier this month, allegations that Tait groomed, drugged and assaulted three different men in 2004, 2010, and 2014, respectively, surfaced on Roy’s Report. All three men reportedly expressed fear of being blacklisted from the Christian music industry.

After the report surfaced, the remaining members of Newsboys expressed support for the survivors and shared disappointment towards Tait.

They also admitted that the former frontman hinted at leading a “double life” upon departing the band in January, but the rest of the group claimed that they were unaware of the extent of Tait’s reported double life.

On Sunday (22 June), Newsboys performed at the Elevate Music Festival in Arizona. They claimed to have been dropped by their label, Capitol Christian Music Group, following the ensuing reaction to the allegations against Tait, which included the pulling of the band’s music from the radio station K-Love.

Agee, the new vocalist of Newsboys, said at the festival (per Variety): “As a result of all this, and the things that have come out that he’s done, he’s confessed, we’ve been dropped from our record label.” Agee added that the group had been “cancelled” by promoters and music venues.

He continued, “A couple of weeks ago, our world was rocked by the devastating news about what that confession and what that double life really was.

“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 made us ever think that he could possibly be a danger to others or anything like that.”

Following Tait’s confession, Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams expressed her wish to see the contemporary Christian music industry “crumble” and pointed at people who may have known about the allegations against Tait over the years.

“I hope the CCM industry crumbles,” she wrote on social media. “And fuck all of you who knew and didn’t do a damn thing. I bet I’ve got your number. And btw if you’re not angry too then maybe it’s time to question why.”