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Paul Colman has been named as the new guitarist for newsboys, who announced just a week ago that former guitarist Bryan Olesen was leaving the group. Colman, a fellow Aussie with newsboys, said, "We've been mates for a long time and it truly feels like I'm joining a bunch of friends that I have a lot of history with. I am thrilled to be a part of the newsboys." Colman will begin his duties as lead guitarist starting with the WinterJam Tour, a concert extravaganza featuring NewSong, newsboys, tobyMac, ZOEgirl, and many others.

Donald Lawrence won six Stellar Awards at the annual ceremony, held on Saturday at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. Hosted by Vickie Winans, Israel Houghton and Donnie McClurkin, the event featured performances by some of gospel's brightest, including Lawrence, Kirk Franklin, Dottie Peoples, and J Moss, among others. Other winners included J Moss, Mary Mary, and Kierra "KiKi" Sheard. For a complete list of winners, click here.

Paul Meany, frontman of Mute Math, told Tucson Weekly that his band has severed ties with Warner Bros. and its Christian subsidiary, Word Records. Meany says Word should not have been marketing them as a Christian band, even though the band members are Christians. He complained about "getting pigeonholed into this particular world that we weren't necessarily proud to be associated with, because we aren't really fans of the music or fans of the cause of the music. We don't fit into that. We're not trying to preach through our music; we don't have some kind of evangelistic agenda."

Kirk Franklin and his wife Tammy will celebrate ten years of marriage in a lavish ceremony to renew wedding vows in their hometown of Dallas. Bishop T.D. Jakes will officiate the proceedings, with neo-soul songstress India.Arie performing. The celebration comes on the heels of an Oprah appearance and two cover stories on Jet and Ebony magazines featuring Franklin's wife and family.

Congratulations to Matthew West, who opened a new chapter in his History book recently with the birth of his first child. Luella Jane West was born on January 16, and Matthew and wife Emily are doing fine.

Global sales of digital music via the Internet and mobile phones tripled in 2005, soaring to $1.1 billion, According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). Over 420 million tracks were sold and downloaded, accounting for six percent of all music sales in 2005.

Popular pop/rock vocalist Rebecca St. James will hit the road starting February 2 on the If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something Tour, in support of her November 2005 release of the same name. The trek will visit 40 cities, and will feature sister trio BarlowGirl and guy-with-a-guitar Jadon Lavik. For more information, visit St. James' official website.

On January 31, gospel soul singer Lisa McClendon will release her third album, Live from House of Blues New Orleans. Recorded just months before Hurricane Katrina devastated the city, the disc is comprised of 13 tracks, including a cover of The Winans' hit "Uphold Me" and a medley of favorites from previous albums.

Martha Munizzi also recorded an album just a few weeks before Katrina hit. No Limits, a collection of 22 tracks set to release March 14, was recorded at Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge, La., a key relief center during the Katrina aftermath. Munizzi rose to prominence with her indie The Best Is Yet to Come, and made history in 2005 for being the first non-black singer to win New Artist of the Year at the Stellar Awards.

© Andree Farias, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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