Why I rejected a £24m record deal – Panam Percy Paul

Renowned gospel singer and songwriter Dr. Panam Percy Paul has revealed that he turned down a lucrative £24 million record deal in 1995 because it required him to limit his references to “Jesus” in his songs.

In an interview with Pastor Emmanuel Iren, Paul disclosed that the three-year contract, worth approximately N7 billion at the time, came with conditions that would have compromised his faith. The record label suggested he use alternative names like “Righteous One” or “Greatest Lover” instead of explicitly mentioning Jesus.

“The catch was, ‘Can you reduce the number of times you call the name Jesus in your songs?’” Paul recounted. “One of them even said to me, ‘You don’t actually need to mention the name Jesus. You can call Him other names.’ I was shocked, so I told them, ‘You can keep the money while I keep the name.’”

The veteran gospel artist also criticized the increasing commercialization of gospel music, stating that record labels and marketers now dictate how artists create their music.

“Today, the extreme is that the music ministry has now become a music industry,” he lamented. “The industry now tells ministers what to do, how to sing, and when to sing.”

Paul’s revelation has sparked discussions about the influence of commercial interests on gospel music and the challenges faced by artists in maintaining their faith-based message.