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Founding of Motown Records
Music record label owned by Universal Music Group, was founded by Berry Gordy Jr, originally as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959 (https://www.elcaobointernacional.com/blog/berry-gordy-jr) -
Motown Record Corporation
The merge of both Tamla Records and Motown Records into one, Motown Record Corporation (https://www.motownrecords.com/) -
First Number One Song
The Marvelettes hit song "Please Mr. Postman" become the first Motown record to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (https://www.popexpresso.com/2018/08/21/please-mr-postman-by-the-marvelettes-is-released-in-1961/) -
Foreign Label
Launch of Tamla-Motown in London, England becomes the non US division of the label (https://www.flickr.com/photos/wasleso/692927636) -
Jackson 5
The signing of the Jackson 5 allows the group to rise to extreme prominence and pushes the label to all new heights during this time. The popularity of the group spawned newfound success for the entire label during this time period
(https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2019/06/07/1924192/50-years-jackson-5) -
"What's Going On"
Marvin Gaye, one of the labels longest signees and marquee stars releases his 11th studio album, "What's Going On" to immediate praise and positivity -
The Big Move
Motown Records move all major operations out west to Los Angeles. A small group stays behind in Detroit, Michigan but the majority of all head executives of the label make the move. They due this to allow themselves a larger outlet as the culture shift out west could mean new opportunities for the label (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles) -
Change of Ownership
After a large decline in sales, Berry Gordy Jr. decides to sell his ownership of Motown Record Corporation to MCA Records and Boston Ventures for $61 million dollars. -
Cooleyhighharmony released
Up and coming quartet Boyz II Men release their first studio album, Cooleyhighharmony, to exceptional praise and success. Their single, Motown Philly, was a huge commercial success and great popularity back into the record label. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooleyhighharmony) -
Change of ownership
Jheryl Busby, who became executive after Berry Goldy, is replaced by Andre Herrell. Herrell was the founder of Uptown Records and remained in command of Motown for just under two years before passing it off to Danny Goldberg, who then passed owendeership to Kadar Massenburg who took control once Motown was bought by Universal Music group in 1998.
