Gospel music legend Dr. Panam Percy Paul has revealed that he turned down a staggering £24 million record deal in 1995 after being asked to reduce the number of times he mentioned “Jesus” in his songs.
The veteran artist disclosed this in a recent interview with Pastor Emmanuel Iren, where he detailed how the contract, worth approximately N7 billion at the time, would have compromised his faith.
“The catch was, ‘Can you reduce the number of times you call the name Jesus in your songs?’” Paul recounted. He was even advised to replace “Jesus” with terms like “Righteous One” or “Greatest Lover.”
Shocked by the request, he rejected the deal without hesitation. “I told them, ‘You can keep the money while I keep the name,’” he declared.
Paul also expressed concerns over how the gospel music scene has been overtaken by commercial interests, stating that today, record labels dictate how gospel artists create their music, shifting focus from ministry to mere entertainment.
“The music ministry has now become a music industry,” he lamented.
His revelation has ignited conversations about the growing influence of commercial pressures on faith-based music, with many praising him for standing firm in his beliefs.
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