Mercy Mercy Me

Created by Berry Gordy in the ‘motor town’ of Detroit, Motown Records is 50 this year. 

As economic hardship hits Detroit’s famous car manufacturing industry, its soul music legacy lives on through Motown – a shining example of a brand that has defined a moment in time and become a blueprint for entertainment businesses around the world.

Motown is not simply a distinctive sound but a unique formula for creating successful artists, defining how to dress, behave and communicate. By giving the artists the tools and the creative impetus, Motown created a style and sound defined by its place and time. Today, Motown would be seen as a house of brands, with artists appearing unique in their own right, yet at the same time having that unmistakable Motown quality.

As a result Motown went on to give birth to a style of music and a way of doing things that have defined a generation and created a host of stars. Artists like Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Lionel Ritchie, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross all came from the Motown stable, becoming individual stars while at the same time contributing to a grander vision.

Motown’s approach has been so successful that it’s evident in many forms of modern media and music brands. Although not as powerful as it once was, Motown’s influence is clear in today’s popular culture, with mass entertainment brands like American Idol being built on the principles Motown laid down in the 50s. 

Motown’s moniker Hitsville USA is testament enough to all that it has achieved.

Happy birthday.     

27 January 2009, posted by David Bruce