Renowned gospel singer and songwriter, Dr. Panam Percy Paul, has made a shocking revelation, disclosing that he turned down a jaw-dropping £24 million record deal in 1995 because it required him to limit references to “Jesus” in his music.
Speaking in an interview with Pastor Emmanuel Iren, founder of Celebration Church, the gospel icon recounted how the three-year contract—worth approximately N7 billion—came with conditions that directly clashed with his Christian beliefs. The record label had proposed that he replace the name “Jesus” with more generalized terms like “Righteous One” or “Greatest Lover.”
Dr. Panam recalled his disbelief when a representative of the label even suggested that he completely avoid mentioning Jesus in his songs. “The catch was, ‘Can you reduce the number of times you call the name Jesus in your songs?’ One of them even said to me, ‘You actually don’t need to mention the name Jesus. You can call Him other names.’”
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Stunned by the demand, he gave an unflinching response that has now become legendary: “You can keep the money while I keep the name.” His unwavering commitment to his faith over financial gain earned him immense respect in the Christian music community.
Beyond his personal experience, Dr. Panam also expressed deep concerns about the growing commercialization of gospel music. He lamented that many record labels and marketers are now dictating not just the style and delivery of gospel songs, but also their lyrical content—often prioritizing profit over spiritual impact.
“Today, the extreme is that the music ministry has now become a music industry,” he said, emphasizing how financial incentives are gradually overshadowing the true purpose of gospel music.
His revelation has sparked widespread conversations among Christians and gospel music lovers, with many praising him for standing firm in his beliefs despite the immense financial temptation. Dr. Panam Percy Paul’s story serves as a powerful reminder that, for some, faith is truly priceless.
