Why I Rejected £24m Record Deal In 1995 – Panam Percy Paul

Popular gospel singer, Panam Percy Paul, has claimed that he turned down a highly lucrative record deal that could have changed his career in 1995.

In a recent sit-down with a Nigerian Pastor, Emmanuel Iren, the singer recalled being offered a three-year contract worth £24 million, roughly equivalent to N7 billion at the time.

The singer, however, states that the deal came with an ultimatum that directly conflicted with his Christian values.

Recouting his experience, Paul revealed that the record label requested he limit the number of times he mentioned the name “Jesus” in his songs.

The singer singer said the record label executive also suggested he use alternative terms like “Righteous One” or “Greatest Lover” in place of the sacred name.

He said, “1995, I was at the peak of ministry, and success in the industry, I was offered 24 million pounds for a three year contract. 1995, 24 million pounds was equivalent to 7 billion naira. The catch was ‘can you reduce the number of times you call the name Jesus in your songs?’. And there is more where this came from. and one of them said to me, ‘you actually don’t need to mention the name Jesus. You can call him other names like Righteous one, Greatest Lover.’ I was shocked, so I told them, you can keep the money, while I keep the name”.

“Today, the extreme is that music ministry has now become music industry. Where the industry now dictates to the ministers what to do, how to sing and when to sing. For example, it was the marketers in Alaba that encouraged the musicians to add tongues to their songs.”