Geoff Moore “When Headlines Stop You in Your Tracks”

When Headlines Stop You in Your Tracks – Newsboys

If you’ve seen the recent headline involving Michael Tait — the long-standing voice in Christian music — you probably had the same reaction many of us did: heartbreak, confusion, maybe even a bit of fear. But what doesthis meanfor your listeners, and the music?

Whenever a prominent figure in our format is accused of serious alligations, it can shake the foundation a little. After all, these aren’t just chart-toppers — they’re people whose voices have helped shape someone’s walk with God. And when a story like this breaks, it shows up in our studios, on our playlists, and in our phones and inboxes when listeners start to ask questions.

So what do we do with that?

This should be a momentto reflect, to recalibrate, and to lead with both truth and grace.

1. Let’s Be Honest With Ourselves — and Our Audience
We don’t have to sweep it under the rug. In fact, pretending it didn’t happen might do more harm than good. People are aware. Your listeners have already seen it or will soon. A brief, thoughtful acknowledgement — even something as simple as, “We’re aware of the news regarding Michael Tait and are praying for truth and healing” — can go a long way in building trust.

2. Every Station Has to Decide: Pause or Play?
Some of us may feel convicted to pull his music temporarily while things unfold. Others may decide to keep it in rotation, believing in due process or separating art from artist. Both responses are valid — the key is knowing your audience and acting in a way that reflects your station’s heart and mission. There’s no one-size-fits-all here, but listeners do appreciate intentionality.

3. Lean Into What’s Our Faith Leads Us To Do
This is a good moment to shine a light on other artists who are living out their faith with humility, transparency, and consistency. Highlight emerging voices or veteran artists who continue to lead by example, on and off the stage. Remind your audience that one headline doesn’t define an entire genre or community.

4. Create Space for Conversation
If your format allows for it, maybe your team discusses the broader topic of failure and grace on the air. These are real-life issues — addiction, brokenness, accountability, and redemption — that many of our listeners face, too. We can model how to respond with integrity while still believing in restoration. What a powerful witness that could be.

5. Stay United Behind the Scenes
As station managers, PDs, and industry leaders, now’s the time to support one another. It might be worth hopping on a call with your peers or sending a quick note to your label partners. How are others handling it? What language are they using? We’re all better when we don’t try to navigate this stuff alone.

The truth is, none of us signed up for this side of the job — the part where we have to respond to brokenness within the very community we celebrate. But maybe that’s the deeper calling of Christian radio: not just playing the hits, but offering hope in the hard moments.

Let’s keep showing up. Let’s keep pointing people to the One who never fails.

Geoff Moore is the National Affiliations Director at ChristianFM Media, the #1 distributor of CCM content. They provide programming strategies to dynamic personalities delivering tailored solutions for radio success. He’s also a seasoned radio personality. Currently, he hosts morning shows in four markets through CFM. Contact Geoff at geoff@smartradiosuite.com