Motown 50 Launches Online Podcast Series

MOTOWN 50 LAUNCHES ONLINE PODCAST SERIES, FEATURING EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH LABEL LEGENDS AND OTHERS

Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Levi Stubbs, Q Tip and The New York Times‘ Frank Rich Included on First 15 Installments Through April 21

Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 13, 2009-The legendary Motown Records celebrates its 50th anniversary this year with a series of promotions and releases from Berry Gordy’s groundbreaking company and Universal Music Enterprises, including a series of online podcasts featuring rare and intimate conversations with the label’s legends, producers, songwriters and singers, which started on Monday, Jan. 12 at https://www.classic.motown.com/. The podcasts are also available on iTunes.

Motown 50 celebration

The year-long series of episodes gets underway with an interview featuring Smokey Robinson reflecting on Motown’s early days, his relationship with Gordy and the impact the label has had on American culture. 

Fresh episodes will debut bi-weekly, including those with founder Berry Gordy; Nick Cannon; the late Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops; The New York Times columnist Frank Rich; Smokey Robinson detailing the genesis of "Shop Around," the label’s first million-seller; the Temptations’ Otis Williams and the late Melvin Franklin; Stevie Wonder; Levi Stubbs and Lamont Dozier (of H-D-H fame) discussing "Reach Out I’ll Be There"; KCRW’s Garth Trinidad; Diana Ross; songwriters Pam Sawyer and Marilyn McLeod on the creation of Ross’s hit "Love Hangover"; hip-hop pioneer and Universal Motown artist Q-Tip; Smokey Robinson and more of the Miracles; and songwriter/producer Dozier.

Upcoming segments will feature Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5, the Commodores, film director Lawrence Kasdan (The Big Chill), and songwriter Diane Warren, among others.

These exclusive podcasts are just part of a year-long celebration of Motown’s 50th and its lasting legacy, which included the Dec. 9 release of Motown: The Complete No. 1’s, a 10-CD box set in the shape of the label’s famed "Hitsville U.S.A." birthplace in Detroit, featuring more than 200 classic songs from 50 Motown artists that topped charts around the world, plus a 100-page photo booklet with rare images and an introduction by Smokey Robinson.

In addition, NOW That’s What I Call Motown!, the latest compilation in the hugely successful NOW That’s What I Call Music! Series-featuring 25 of the label’s most beloved, timeless classic pop and R&B tracks-was released on CD and digitally January 13, as a joint venture from EMI Music, the Universal Music Group and its Motown Records division, and Sony Music Entertainment.

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