Band
Most frequent collaborator: Hal Davis · 34 tracks
Holds writing credit on 36 of 148 tracks
Only later in their career. Overall they wrote around 24% of this catalogue, but the split is stark. As the Jackson 5 at Motown, they sang songs written for them by a team called The Corporation, on hits like 'I Want You Back' and 'ABC.' After signing to Epic as the Jacksons, they took creative control and wrote their own material, including 'Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)' and 'Can You Feel It.'
Across all 148 tracks: how many The Jacksons wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.
Share of all 148 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.
Percentage of all 148 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.
| Member | Period | Lyrics | Music | Production | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackie Jackson | 1964-present | 13% |
13% |
1% |
99% |
| Tito Jackson Died 2024-09-15 | 1964-2024 | 9% |
9% |
1% |
99% |
| Jermaine Jackson | 1964-1975, 1983-present | 5% |
5% |
1% |
88% |
| Marlon Jackson Former | 1964-1989 | 8% |
8% |
1% |
99% |
| Michael Jackson Died 2009-06-25 | 1964-1984 | 13% |
13% |
1% |
92% |
| Randy Jackson | 1975-present | 14% |
14% |
1% |
24% |
The Jacksons's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.
Where The Jacksons sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.
Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.
None of the signature songs above fall in this category.
Covers all 15 of The Jacksons' studio albums: 9 recorded as The Jackson 5 on Motown Records (1969-1975) and 6 as The Jacksons on Epic Records (1976-1989). The Jackson 5 Christmas Album (1970) is not included as it is a holiday album, not a studio album.
Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown
Motown
Motown
Motown
Motown
Motown
Motown
Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records
No albums from this decade.
Bubble size = tracks worked on together. HD Hal Davis · TC The Corporation · BG Berry Gordy · DR Deke Richards · AM Alphonso Mizell · FP Freddie Perren
Data Insight
The Jacksons illustrate one of the sharpest transitions in pop music, from an entirely writer-for-hire model (Motown era, where the Corporation wrote everything and the brothers were performers) to genuine artistic ownership (Epic era, where Michael and Randy Jackson began writing the group's material). The shift also charts Michael Jackson's emergence as a songwriter and producer in his own right, a process that would culminate in Thriller.
Quick Facts
Creative Fingerprint
A group that started as performers and became writers: the Jacksons sang songs written for them by Motown's Corporation during the Jackson 5 years, then took creative control at Epic and wrote their own hits like 'Shake Your Body' and 'Can You Feel It.'
The Story
The Jacksons, originally known as The Jackson 5, are one of the most historically significant acts in popular music, responsible for reshaping the sound of Motown, launching the career of Michael Jackson, and producing some of the most joyful, technically brilliant recordings in the history of American pop and soul. The group was formed in Gary, Indiana, in 1964 by brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson, performing initially at local venues before winning a talent show at the Apollo Theater in 1967 and signing to Motown Records through Diana Ross's endorsement in 1969. Their debut single 'I Want You Back' went to number one, followed in quick succession by 'ABC,' 'The Love You Save,' and 'I'll Be There', four consecutive number-one hits in their first year that remains one of the most remarkable commercial and artistic openings in pop history. During the Motown years (1969-1975), the brothers performed material written entirely by outside staff writers, primarily the 'Corporation' of Berry Gordy, Alphonso Mizell, Freddie Perren, and Deke Richards, but they were extraordinary interpreters, and the young Michael's vocal performances established him immediately as a once-in-a-generation talent. The family signed with Epic Records in 1976 and rebranded as The Jacksons, with Randy Jackson replacing Jermaine (who remained at Motown to pursue a solo career). Beginning with Destiny (1978), the brothers began writing their own material, with Michael and Randy Jackson as the primary songwriters, 'Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)' from Destiny became a top-ten pop hit and signaled Michael's rapid emergence as a fully realized songwriter and producer. The group's Triumph (1980) and Victory (1984) albums continued this self-written direction. Michael Jackson also maintained his solo career in parallel, recording Off the Wall (1979) and Thriller (1982) during the same period. Victory (1984) was Michael's last album with the group; after the accompanying tour, he focused entirely on his solo career. Tito Jackson died on September 15, 2024.