In addition to establishing branch offices in New York City and Los Angles, Motown also produced several hit films, including Lady Sings The Blues and Mahogany, both starring Diana Ross. Other Motown films included Thank God It's Friday in 1978, The Wiz, in 1978 and Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon in 1985.
Motown continued with its successful musical acts in the late 70s and into the 80s with acts such as Lionel Richie, The Commodores, Rick James and DeBarge, among others. Despite this success, by the mid-1980s Motown was losing money and consequently Gordy sold his ownership rights in Motown Records to Music Corporation of America (MCA) and Boston Ventures in June 1988. In 1989, Gordy sold the Motown Productions operations to Motown executive Suzanne de Passe, who renamed the company de Passe Entertainment.
Despite major recording starts such as Boys II Men, among others, during the 1990s the company remained in a state of turmoil. Numerous executives were appointed by MCA and a multitude of legal issues plagued the company. But by 1999, Motown was again a driving force in the music industry with such acts as 702, Brian McKnight, and Erykah Badu.
Motown's (which has merged with Universal Records to become Universal Motown Records Group) current roster includes many R&B super stars such as India Arie, Mya, Kem, Yummy Bingham, Badu, pop superstar Lindsay Lohan, reggae stars Damien and Stephen Marley and many more. Additionally, Universal Motown Records Group has retained Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and the Temptations.
In Motown, Berry Gordy was able to adeptly blend R&B and Soul with mainstream pop music to create a "super" record label. This template can never be duplicated, but the world of music is by far a better place because of Berry Gordy's visions and unique management.
For more information visit the Motown website.
Article comments
1 - Christine
I love Motown, the best music ever!!
2 - Nick
That amazing Motown sound will live on forever. Is it possible to gauge the influence Gordy had?
3 - tink
Barry Gordy is an amazing man who rarely missed his mark. The fact that Motown's music throughout the years has remained exciting and captivating proves that point.
Great article!
4 - Phillip L Fletcher
the Sound of Young America - words can't describe the impact Motown has had not only on the American cultural and social scene - but equally its impact globally has been nothing short of phenomenal.
Phillip L Fletcher