The Breakfast Club INTERVIEW: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Talk ‘Nothing But Hits,’ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Michael Jackson, Prince, Music Culture & Producing + More
Mar 9, 2026
Jimmy Jam, Grammy-winning producer behind hits for Janet Jackson and others, reflects on decades of music-making and influence. He discusses teamwork, New Jack Swing origins, archiving music history, their Las Vegas residency concept, surprise live moments, Prince’s impact, AI as a songwriting tool, and ideas about genre, culture, and legacy.
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Human Instinct Still Drives Hits
- Algorithms can't replace human instinct for music; emotional response (goosebumps) still drives hits.
- Jimmy Jam says trending tools help surface music but the gut reaction from producers and audiences remains decisive.
Hits Need An Ecosystem Not Lone Geniuses
- Creating hits is collaborative and requires an ecosystem: artists, producers, radio and tastemakers all matter.
- Jimmy Jam emphasizes teamwork and credits talented artists and platforms for making songs into hits.
Residency As Time Travel Through Their Hits
- Their Vegas residency is a musician-first return to roots: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis will perform their hits live and tell song stories.
- They plan a mixtape-style set at Voltaire with verse-chorus highlights and guest appearances across six varied nights.