Motown

American  

[moh-toun] / ˈmoʊˌtaʊn /

noun

1. Also called Motown sound.  an upbeat, often pop-influenced style of rhythm and blues associated with the city of Detroit and with numerous Black vocalists and vocal groups since the 1950s, characterized by compact, danceable arrangements.

2. a nickname for Detroit, Michigan.

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Motown British  

/ ˈməʊˌtaʊn /

noun

1. music combining rhythm and blues and pop, or gospel rhythms and modern ballad harmony

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Etymology

Origin of Motown

First recorded in 1965–70; from Motown, proprietary name for records released by the Motown Record Corporation of Detroit, Michigan, shortened from Motor Town, in reference to Detroit's major role as a motor vehicle producer

Example Sentences

The heady early years at Apple, wartime endurance in Britain, Motown’s hidden genius and more of the month’s best nonfiction.

From The Wall Street Journal

In 1972, Dea became obsessed with Stewart after hearing him sing a trio of Motown hits on an old demo tape.

From The Wall Street Journal

"There's a there's a thing I miss in in pop music today, which is that kind of Motown feeling, that classic feeling, that analogue feeling," she told me last year.

From BBC

Since recordings made more money, she auditioned in New York before trying Motown.

From The Wall Street Journal

The next is a winding presentation by BJ to Tae Young about the influence of Motown groups like the Jackson 5 and boy bands like New Edition on the momentum of K-pop’s rise.

From Los Angeles Times