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Motown is a record label and music production company that was founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1959 by Berry Gordy Jr. The company's name is a combination of "motor" and "town," a nod to Detroit's nickname as the "Motor City."
The history of Motown is closely tied to the history of African American music in the 20th century. At a time when the music industry was heavily segregated, Gordy saw an opportunity to create a record label that would showcase the talents of Black artists and bring their music to a wider audience.
Motown's first hit came in 1960 with the release of "Money (That's What I Want)" by Barrett Strong. This was followed by a string of successful releases by artists such as The Miracles, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye.
Motown's success during the 1960s and 1970s was due in large part to Gordy's ability to create a distinct "Motown Sound" that blended elements of R&B, pop, and gospel music. The label also had a strong emphasis on visual presentation and grooming.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the company faced financial difficulties and many of its top artists left the label. In 1988, Gordy sold the company to MCA and it was later acquired by PolyGram in 1994.
The musical Dreamgirls, which debuted on Broadway in 1981, is loosely based on the history of Motown and the careers of artists such as Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Temptations, and James Brown. It tells the story of a fictional girl group called The Dreams and their rise to fame in the 1960s and 1970s. The musical was a commercial success and was later adapted into a feature film in 2006.