Jimmy Jam | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

About this episode

"He didn’t fire us. He freed us.” Billy Corgan welcomes legendary songwriter and producer Jimmy Jam to The Magnificent Others. Jimmy explains how he and Terry Lewis broke Prince’s rule against producing artists outside The Time and how getting fired opened the door to one of music’s most successful partnerships. Jimmy shares how he got his first professional gig at 12, filling in for a drummer in his father’s band—and how his mother made sure he was paid like a pro. He recalls meeting Terry as a teenager and bringing their different musical tastes together. With Janet Jackson, Jam and Lewis built Control around her experiences and attitude, helping her become an active voice in her music. Jimmy also explains how their “funky bottom, pretty top” sound evolved, why young artists need skills beyond singing and social media, and why AI should come with clear labeling, permission and compensation for creators. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.