Meaning of Motown'Motown' refers both to a record label and a particular style of music.
The Motown Record Corporation, founded in Detroit in 1959 by Berry Gordy Jr., became one of the most successful African American-owned businesses in the U.S. The Motown label launched the careers of many iconic soul and R&B artists in the 1960s and 1970s. [1,2]
The **'Motown sound'** refers to the style of music popularized by Motown artists like The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and The Supremes. It is characterized by uptempo rhythms, strong basslines, gospel influences, and crossover pop appeal. [3,4]
Though rooted in rhythm and blues and soul music, the Motown sound incorporated elements of jazz, pop, rock, and gospel to create a mainstream pop music style that helped break racial barriers. [5,6]
Motown's success and positive image helped transform the public's perception of black music and culture during the 1960s civil rights era. [7,8] Although Motown moved from Detroit to Los Angeles in the 1970s, its musical legacy and "soulful spirit" have endured. [9,10]
Motown is the term that refers to the style of music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the late 1960's. The "Motown Sound" was a mixture of several popular musical styles and can be considered a form of soul music. Specifcally, Motown is a nickname for Detroit, Michigan. It is an abbreviation for "Motor City," a reference to Detroit being the long-time center of automobile manufacturing in the United States in the twentieth century.
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