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

"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 • Mar. 26, 2026

I was like, “I don’t want to do it in the doo-wop kind of Motown way.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

By 1972, Mr. Wonder had gained autonomy at Motown and was writing independently.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

And I didn’t pay any attention to the paperwork when I was with Motown and my name never, ever, to this day, ended up as a writer on the song.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2025

I’m too focused on his lips and smile and eyes to listen to his lessons on Motown and a man named Berry Gordy who started it all.

From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi