Jimmy Jam Says Prince and Michael Jackson Were ‘Competitive,' but Also ‘Very Respectful of Each Other’ (Exclusive)
Jimmy Jam Says Prince and Michael Jackson Were ‘Competitive,' but Also ‘Very Respectful of Each Other’ (Exclusive)
Meredith Wilshere, Scott HuverSun, April 26, 2026 at 8:59 AM UTC
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Michael Jackson and PrinceCredit: Rita Barros/Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty -
Jimmy Jam says Michael Jackson and Prince had contrasting creative processes, but influenced and admired each other
At the premiere for the movie Michael, the songwriter and producer talked about their legacy and competition
Jackson died in 2009 at age 50, while Prince died in 2016 at age 57
Michael Jackson and Prince may have been in competition with each other on the charts, but ultimately, they respected each other. That is, according to Jimmy Jam, who worked with both of them.
Speaking with PEOPLE at the Hollywood premiere of Michael on April 20, the songwriter and producer, 66, shares that he thinks they “probably were both competitive, but they also were very respectful of each other.”
“The way they went about doing what they do is totally different. I always say Prince would start a record at the beginning of the day, and at the end of the day, the record would be totally done, mixed, ready to go. Very spontaneous. That's the way Prince did it," he shares.
Jimmy Jam in 2026Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty for Complex
On the other hand, Jimmy Jam notes that “Michael was very meticulous.”
“I remember, on ‘Scream,’ we literally spent three days changing one line, and he just said, ‘We have to challenge ourselves.’ And we finally were like, ‘Okay, we're done challenging that. It sounds great. It sounds great.’ "
Jackson died at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009. He suffered cardiac arrest at home. Meanwhile, Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose at Paisley Park, his home and recording studio in Chanhassen, Minn., at age 57 on April 21, 2016.
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In Jimmy Jam’s mind, they were “two different individuals in the way they create,” but he insists “they both admired each other," even if they seemingly feuded during their careers, so much so that it's rumored that Prince skipped out on the supergroup recording of "We Are the World" in 1985 due to Jackson's involvement.
Michael Jackson in 1988Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
“Which doesn't mean they necessarily would have got along in the studio creating, because they did it in a different way, but Prince was definitely influenced by Michael, and I think Michael was definitely influenced by Prince,” Jimmy Jam adds.
About Prince, Jimmy Jam tells PEOPLE, “There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about him or think about what would he do in a certain situation.”
Michael hit theaters on April 24.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
