They are standing strong.
The Newsboys shared an update six weeks after the sudden departure of their longtime frontman, Michael Tait, expressing gratitude for God’s faithfulness during this transitional period. The band, which now consists of Adam Agee, Jody Davis, Jeff Frankenstein, and Duncan Phillips, shared in a social media post that despite the challenges, they remain excited about the future and have been working on new music. Their first release of 2025, a reworked version of “How Many Times,” will drop on March 14th, marking a fresh chapter for the group.
This announcement comes after Tait, who had been the band’s lead for 15 years, revealed in January that he was stepping down. In his statement, Tait explained that after much prayer and reflection, he had made the difficult decision to leave Newsboys, a move that took even him by surprise. His departure, just before the start of the Worldwide Revival Nights tour, led the band to turn to Agee, who joined the group in 2023, to take over the lead singing role.
In a subsequent interview, Agee shared how the band quickly adapted by re-recording “How Many Times” with his vocals replacing Tait’s. This track, one of the first written by Agee for the band, will now be released as part of their new music. Agee, previously with Stellar Kart and Audio Adrenaline, is now the fourth lead singer in Newsboys’ history. During a performance after Tait’s departure, Agee reflected on the uncertainty the band faced but affirmed that while the messenger might change, the message remains the same.
Tait’s tenure with Newsboys followed his time in the rap-rock group DC Talk, and he had also led his own band, Tait, before joining Newsboys. Newsboys keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein has attributed the band’s longevity to their shared commitment to biblical truths. He explained that unlike other genres where ego and selfishness often lead to breakups, the Christian music scene focuses on a greater purpose — using music to impact and change lives, which has contributed to the band’s enduring success.