January 17, 2025 ... Yesterday, longtime Newsboys frontman Michael Tait made the announcement that he has stepped down as vocalist for the Newsboys. In his post on social media, Michael wrote:

"Fifteen years ago, my life was forever changed when I received the invite to step into the role of lead singer for Newsboys. The years since have been some of the most fulfilling, faith-filled, and rewarding years of my life. I have been on an amazing journey all over the globe, performing and ministering to people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. Together we wrote and produced music that I am deeply proud of - from Born Again and We Believe to Worldwide Revival and of course, God's Not Dead.

While this may come as a surprise given I've been touring ever since college, I've made for me what is a monumental and heartfelt decision that it is time to step down from Newsboys...

For over the last decade, Bethel Music has written and fostered some of the most hope-filled worship anthems sung by the greater church. Their newest live album, We Must Respond, continues this trend. The 18-track project (the most tracks of any previous Bethel Music album) features the entire Bethel Music collective, as well as Brooke Ligertwood, Abbie Gamboa, and Aodhan King. There are plenty of standouts here for churches and avid contemporary worship music listeners. Seven of the tracks - "No One Like The Lord," "Holy Song," "He Has Done Great Things," "If The Lord," "Even Though I Walk," "Center," and "Made for More" - were released before the album's official release. Ironically, these seven prove to be the standouts on the project...

Jason Martin must have been feeling extra nostalgic when recording Lust for Gold. On his newest release, he takes listeners on a time-traveling journey back to the 90s shoegaze wall of reverb sound. Straight away, "909" is a delightful call to crank up the volume and let the noisy guitars wash over you as he returns to the familiar theme of looking backward. The title track is another highlight that utilizes synth and a simple guitar riff to lament the foolishness of a life spent seeking earthly treasure singing, "In my lust for gold I feel like/I've gotten nowhere/In my lust for gold I feel like this...