Motown- When America gained its Soul- By Fraser Brown

If there is one word that is most people associate as being one of the most influential and lasting impact on the music industry, alongside that of rock n’ roll, has to be Motown. Motown was not just a Record Label from Detroit; it was more than that, a sub movement during the time of Civil Rights, Motown not only made a name for itself in America, but all over the world. Motown Records was first founded on the 12^th of January, 19591 and made its major start during the 60s. Not only did Motown produce a number of famous singers and groups, but it also helped and made an impact on American society and the Civil Rights Movement. As stated in an article by Christina Pomoni “Music echoes social change and such it bears the weight of the expression of the people”.2 

Motown wasn’t just some American Record label that produced a number of well known singers, it was a statement to America and the World that a change was happening in America and that new change is that black Americans will be in the spot light as an equal with white people. It symbolised the change in social values in the American public, the impact was not that Black artists were no

longer a rarity, but they were actually popular and sought after. The 1960s produced a number of Black artists that were and continued to be praised for their contribution to the American music industry, such artists and groups include, the Supremes (who included Diana Ross), the

Four Tops and the Jackson 5 and singers such as Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gate who were apart of the Tamla label3. 

Not only was it the record label themselves that showed a changing America and a counter to the racial inequality and chaos of America, the artists and their songs also gave a way to express the unrest that many African Americans felt during the time. Take the song R.E.S.P.E.C.T, by Aretha Franklin who expressed the demand for Civil Rights4.This truly shows the massive impact that Motown really had on America. It had one aspect which was the massive influence on music throughout the 60s and into the late 70s, leading to difference genre such as R&B, Country, Jazz and Pop. It also had the more important influence on the Civil Rights movement as well providing another way to express African Americans struggles and wants and in some aspects, another form of protest.

To conclude, Motown had a huge impact in the 60s, not only towards the music industry but also in society itself, changing the way America views Black artists and groups. Motown also shows the real power music can have on society, similar to the influence of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X in America, Motown gave way to another possibility of hope to many young, African American children and teenagers, so that they could look forward to the future they would inevitably grow up in. 

1Cruz, Gilbert, Jan. 12, 2009, A Brief History of Motown, TIME

2Pomoni, Christina (10^th Oct. 2009) The Social Impact of Motown Music on American Culture, https://psychedelichippiemusic.blogspot.com/2009/10/social-impact-of-motown-music-on.html 

3Stevie Wonder, Motown Sound, retrieved from https://www.motownmuseum.org/motown-sound/the-artists/stevie-wonder/

4Schoonmaker, James (2015) Motown: Its True Impact on the Civil Rights Movement, Manchester Historian