General News | 18 June 2025 19:25 CET

"Money Is Not The Reason Gospel Singers Switch To Secular Music" - Rich Hassani 

By Oluwarantimi Oludase
Ric Hassani

Ric Hassani

‎Popular Nigerian singer and songwriter, Ikechukwu Eric Ahiauzu, best known as Ric Hassani, has argued that the reason some gospel artistes switch to secular music is not about money, but fulfillment.


‎According to him, the gospel goes beyond singing, but the ability to interpret God's word through music.


‎He further stated that not every singer can be in church, but some of them were made for the world, and their calling is to impact the world in a different way.


‎Speaking in a recent interview with Hip TV, the singer revealed that music goes beyond singing, but the ability to be able to record and create music is beyond music, coupled with the fulfillment and satisfaction that comes with it. He said:

‎“Gospel is beyond singing. You have to be blessed to be able to interpret God’s words through music. For example, there is no way a Katty Perry would communicate God’s words through music the way CeCe Winans does. I feel like CeCe is blessed with being able to communicate the Holy Spirit through music. Whitney Houston is blessed in a different way.


‎“So, I don’t feel this idea of everybody must be in church. Some of us were made for the world. I also have Christian songs. I’m a very strong Christian. In all my albums, there is at least one gospel song. But that’s not really my calling. I meant to impact the world in a different way, with a different kind of music. I’m not going to do it the way Frank Edwards or Mercy Chinwo is going to do it. If I enter church music now, I fit no bang. It’s not my thing.


‎“People leaving gospel music for secular music is not about money. Creatives or people who blessed with these gifts like money, everybody likes money. But the real fulfilment is being able to do it and exist doing it. Even the Wizkids, the Burnas that have all the money in the world… If it was really about money, then Davido has no business doing anything because he has all the money he would ever need.


‎“So, it’s not really about money. The kind of satisfaction that comes from being able to think of an idea of thing and put it on the record and create music is beyond money. It’s bigger than any satisfaction money can give you.”

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