Editing Motown (section)

==Motown subsidiary labels==
In order to avoid accusations of [[payola]] should DJs play too many records from the original Tamla label, Gordy formed Motown Records as a second label in 1960.  The two labels featured the same writers, producers and artists.

Many more subsidiary labels were established later under the umbrella of the Motown parent company, including Gordy Records, Soul Records and VIP Records; in reality the Motown Record Corporation controlled all of these labels.  Most of the distinctions between Motown labels were largely arbitrary, with the same writers, producers and musicians working on all the major subsidiaries, and artists were often shuffled between labels for internal marketing reasons. All of these records are usually considered to be "Motown" records, regardless of whether they actually appeared on the Motown Records label itself or a subsidiary label.

===Major divisions===
* Tamla Records: Established 1959, Tamla was a primary subsidiary for mainstream R&B/soul music. Tamla is the company's original label: Gordy founded Tamla Records several months before establishing the Motown Record Corporation. The label's numbering system was combined with those of Motown and Gordy in 1982, and the label was merged with Motown in 1988. Notable Tamla artists included [[The Miracles|Smokey Robinson & the Miracles]], [[Marvin Gaye]], [[Stevie Wonder]], [[the Marvelettes]], and [[Eddie Kendricks]]. Tamla was briefly re-activated in 1996 as a reggae label, but only released a 12" single by [[Cocoa Tea]] called "New Immigration Law". Tamla also had a sub-label called Penny Records in 1959; artists on that label included Bryan Brent And The Cut Outs, who recorded a single for the label entitled "Vacation Time" b/w "For Eternity" (2201). In 2023, it was announced that Tamla would be re-activated again for the first time  in nearly 30 years. This time around, it will be relaunched under [[Capitol Christian Music Group]] as an imprint devoted solely to positive R&B and hip hop.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sexton |first1=Paul |title=Historic Label Tamla Records Relaunched As 'Positive' Hip-Hop, R&B Imprint |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/historic-label-tamla-records-relaunched/ |website=udiscovermusic.com |date=June 21, 2023 |publisher=uDiscoverMusic |access-date=2024-07-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Mitchell |first1=Gail |title=Capitol Brings Back Storied Label Tamla Records: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/business/record-labels/tamla-records-relaunched-capitol-music-ej-gaines-interview-1235357601/ |magazine=Billboard  |access-date=2024-07-04}}</ref> Tamla Records slogan: ''"The Sound that Makes the World Go 'Round"''.
* Motown Records: Established 1960, Motown was and remains the company's main label for mainstream R&B/soul music (and, today, [[hip-hop music]] as well). The label's numbering system was combined with those of Tamla and Gordy in 1982, and the label (and company) was purchased by [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] in 1988. Notable Motown artists have included [[Mary Wells]], [[the Supremes]], [[Four Tops]], [[the Jackson 5]], [[Michael Jackson]], [[Jermaine Jackson]], [[Boyz II Men]], [[Commodores]], [[Lionel Richie]], [[Dazz Band]], [[Brian McKnight]], [[98 Degrees]], and [[Erykah Badu]]. Motown Records slogan: ''"The Sound of Young America"''.
* Gordy Records: Established 1962, Gordy was also a primary subsidiary for mainstream R&B/soul music. Originally known as ''Miracle Records'' (slogan: ''"If It's a Hit, It's a Miracle"''), the name was changed in 1962 to avoid confusion with the Miracles singing group. The label's numbering system was combined with those of Motown and Tamla in 1982, and the label was merged with Motown in 1988. Notable Gordy artists included [[the Temptations]], [[Martha and the Vandellas]], [[the Contours]], [[Edwin Starr]], [[Rick James]], [[The Mary Jane Girls]], [[Teena Marie]], [[Switch (band)|Switch]], and [[DeBarge]]. Gordy Records slogan: ''"It's What's in the Grooves that Counts"''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mike Callahan, Patrice Eyries|first=David Edwards|title=Gordy Album Discography, Part 1 (1962–1981)|url=http://www.bsnpubs.com/motown/gordy/gordy.html|publisher=bsnpubs.com|access-date=2014-03-16|archive-date=October 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012205727/http://www.bsnpubs.com/motown/gordy/gordy.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Tamla Motown logo variant A.webp|thumb|One of Tamla Motown logos]]
* Tamla Motown Records: Motown's non-[[US]] label, established in March 1965 and folded into the regular Motown label in 1976. Distributed by [[EMI]], Tamla Motown issued the releases on the American Motown labels, using its own numbering system. In some cases, Tamla Motown would issue singles and albums not released in the United States (for example, the singles "[[I Second That Emotion]]" and "[[Why (Must We Fall in Love)]]" by Diana Ross & the Supremes with the Temptations, as well as the successful ''[[Motown Chartbusters]]'' series of albums).
* Motown Gospel (formerly EMI Gospel)

===Secondary R&B labels===
* Check-Mate Records: Short-lived (1961–1962) R&B/soul subsidiary, purchased from [[Chess Records]]. Notable artists included [[David Ruffin]] and The Del-Phis (later [[Martha and the Vandellas]]).
* Miracle Records: Short-lived (1961) R&B/soul subsidiary that lasted less than a year. Some pressings featured the infamous tagline, "If it's a hit, it's a Miracle." Renamed '''Gordy Records''' in 1962. Notable releases included early recordings by [[Jimmy Ruffin]] and [[the Temptations]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Miracle {{!}} Motown Junkies|url=http://motownjunkies.co.uk/labels/miracle/|work=article|date=October 2, 2009|publisher=motownjunkies.co.uk|access-date=2014-03-16|archive-date=April 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418044129/http://motownjunkies.co.uk/labels/miracle/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* MoWest Records: MoWest was a short-lived (1971–1973; 1976 in UK) subsidiary for R&B/soul artists based on the West Coast. Shut down when the main Motown office moved to Los Angeles. Notable artists included [[Lesley Gore]], [[G. C. Cameron]], [[the Sisters Love]], [[Syreeta Wright]], [[The Four Seasons (band)|the Four Seasons]], [[Commodores]] (their first two singles in 1972 and 1973), [[Live at Caesars Palace#The Devastating Affair|The Devastating Affair]], and Los Angeles DJ [[Tom Clay]]. Unlike other Motown releases in the UK that were released by Tamla Motown, MoWest retained its US label design and logo for its UK releases as well.  In fact, MoWest lasted longer in the UK up until 1976.
* Motown Yesteryear: a label created in late 1970s and used through the 1980s for the reissues of 7-inch singles from all eras of the company's history, after printing in the initial label has ceased.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.diana-web.com/discography/diana/re-yesteryear.jpg |title=Diana-web.com |access-date=December 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426045944/http://www.diana-web.com/discography/diana/re-yesteryear.jpg |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> One Motown Yesteryear single made ''Billboard'''s Top 40 – [[the Contours]]' "Do You Love Me", in 1988, when its inclusion in the film ''[[Dirty Dancing]]'' revived interest.
* Soul Records: Established in 1964, Soul was a R&B/soul subsidiary for releases with less of a [[jazz]] feel and/or more of a [[blues]] feel. Notable Soul artists included [[Jr. Walker & the All-Stars]], [[Shorty Long]], [[Gladys Knight & the Pips]], [[The Originals (band)|the Originals]], [[The Fantastic Four (R&B group)|the Fantastic Four]], and [[Jimmy Ruffin]]. The label was dissolved in 1978. This label has no affiliation with the short-lived S.O.U.L. Records, an early 1990s imprint that was founded by the production team [[the Bomb Squad]].
* V.I.P. Records: Established in 1964, V.I.P. was an R&B/soul subsidiary. Notable artists included [[the Velvelettes]], [[The Spinners (American group)|the Spinners]], [[The Monitors (American band)|the Monitors]], [[the Elgins]] and [[Chris Clark (singer)|Chris Clark]]. V.I.P. also was the outlet for pop records that were leased to Motown by EMI (the distributor of Tamla-Motown in Europe). The label was dissolved in 1974.
* Weed Records: A very short-lived subsidiary. Only one release, [[Chris Clark (singer)|Chris Clark]]'s 1969 ''[[CC Rides Again]]'' album, was issued. This release featured the tongue-in-cheek tagline: "Your Favorite Artists Are On Weed". The logo was a parody of the "Snapping Fingers" logo for [[Stax Records]], but the hand in this case is holding up a peace sign.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mike Callahan|first=David Edwards|title=Weed Album Discography|url=http://www.bsnpubs.com/motown/weed/weed.html|work=article|publisher=bsnpubs.com|access-date=2014-03-16|archive-date=March 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325182904/http://www.bsnpubs.com/motown/weed/weed.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  The name "Weed Records" is now owned by the Tokyo/New York-based ''Weed Records''.{{cn |date=April 2025 |reason=Also poorly phrased, with obvious redundancy.}}

===Additional genre labels===
====Country====
* Mel-o-dy Records.: Established in 1962 as a secondary R&B/soul music subsidiary, Mel-o-dy later focused on white [[country music]] artists. Notable Mel-o-dy artists include [[Dorsey Burnette]]. The label was dissolved in 1965.
* Hitsville Records.: Founded as ''Melodyland Records'' in 1974. After the [[Melodyland Christian Center]] threatened legal action, the name was changed to Hitsville in 1976. Like Mel-o-dy before it, Hitsville focused on country music. Run by [[Mike Curb]] and Ray Ruff, Hitsville's notable artists included [[Ronnie Dove]], [[Pat Boone]], [[T. G. Sheppard]] and [[Jud Strunk]]. The label was dissolved in 1977.<ref>{{cite news |title= Obituaries – Ray Ruff|first= Spencer|last= Leigh|newspaper= [[The Independent]]|date= October 4, 2005|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ray-ruff-509467.html |access-date=January 25, 2010 |location=London}}</ref>  In the UK, Melodyland/Hitsville material was released on MoWest.
* M.C. Records: Operated 1977 to 1978 as a continuation of the Hitsville label.  A joint venture between Gordy and [[Mike Curb]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Mike Callahan|first=David Edwards|title=M.C. Album Discography|url=http://www.bsnpubs.com/motown/mc/mc.html|work=article|publisher=bsnpubs.com|access-date=2014-03-16|archive-date=October 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012205740/http://www.bsnpubs.com/motown/mc/mc.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Mel-o-dy, Hitsville, and M.C. catalogs are now managed by [[Universal Music Group Nashville|Mercury Nashville Records]].

====Hip hop/rap====
* Wondirection Records.: A record label owned by [[Stevie Wonder]], it had one 12-inch dance release in 1983, the ten-minute rap track "The Crown" by [[Gary Byrd and the GB Experience]].
* Mad Sounds Recordings.: Short-lived hip-hop/rap subsidiary label, released five albums in the mid-1990s- including ''[[Zig Zag (Tha Mexakinz album)|Zig Zag]]'' by [[Tha Mexakinz]],''Trendz'' by Trendz of Culture and ''[[Rottin ta da Core]]'' by [[Rottin Razkals]].

====Jazz====
* Workshop Jazz Records.: Motown's [[jazz]] subsidiary, active from 1962 to 1964. Notable Workshop Jazz artists included the George Bohannon Trio, [[Earl Washington (musician)|Earl Washington]] All Stars, and [[Four Tops]] (whose recordings for the label went unissued for 30 years). The Workshop Jazz catalog is currently managed by [[Verve Records]].
* [[Blaze Records]].: A short-lived label featuring a [[Jack Ashford]] instrumental released in September 1969, "Do The Choo-Choo" with b-side "Do The Choo-Choo Pt II" written by L. Chandler, E. Willis, J. Ashford, with label number 1107.
* Mo Jazz Records.: Another jazz label created in the 1990s, this was Motown's most successful jazz imprint. Notable artists included [[Norman Brown (guitarist)|Norman Brown]], [[Foley (musician)|Foley]], [[Norman Connors]], and J. Spencer. It also reissued instrumental albums like [[Stevie Wonder]]'s 1968 album ''[[Eivets Rednow]]'' and [[Grover Washington Jr.]]'s CTI/Kudu albums under the Classic Mo Jazz subsidiary.  This label (including its roster and catalog) was folded into Verve Records after the PolyGram/Universal merger.

====Rock====
* Rare Earth Records.: Established in 1969 after the signing of [[Rare Earth (band)|Rare Earth]] (after whom the label was named), Rare Earth Records was a subsidiary focusing on blues-oriented and progressive rock styles.<ref name=Flory/> Notable acts included Rare Earth, [[R. Dean Taylor]], [[Pretty Things]], [[Toe Fat]], [[XIT (band)|XIT]], and [[Stoney & Meatloaf (band)|Stoney & Meatloaf]]. The label also was the subsidiary to house the first white band signed to Motown, [[the Rustix]].
* Prodigal Records.: Purchased by Motown in 1976, Motown used Prodigal Records as a second rock music subsidiary; a successor label to Rare Earth Records.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mike Callahan|first=David Edwards|title=Prodigal Album Discography|url=http://www.bsnpubs.com/motown/prodigal/prodigal.html|work=article|publisher=bsnpubs.com|access-date=2014-03-16|archive-date=October 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012205812/http://www.bsnpubs.com/motown/prodigal/prodigal.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  The Rare Earth band moved over to the label following the Rare Earth label's demise. Pop singer [[Charlene (singer)|Charlene]]'s #3 pop single for Motown ''[[I've Never Been To Me]]'' was originally released and charted on this label in 1977 (#97).  Prodigal was dissolved in 1978.
* Morocco Records.: Acronym for "'''MO'''town '''ROC'''k '''CO'''mpany". As the name suggests, Morocco was a rock music subsidiary. Active from 1983 to 1984, it was a short-lived attempt to revive the Rare Earth Records concept. Only seven albums were released on the label. Its two most promising acts, [[Duke Jupiter]] and the [[African American|black]] [[New wave music|new wave]] trio [[Fizzy Qwick|Tiggi Clay]] (via their lead singer, [[Fizzy Qwick]]) eventually moved to the parent label.

====Other====
* Divinity Records.: Short-lived (1962–1963) gospel subsidiary. With five releases by artists- Wright Specials, Gospel Stars, Bernadettes, and [[Liz Lands]]. Label sequence starts at 99004 to 99008, the final recording being "[[We Shall Overcome]]" (for label number 99008) that was recorded in the [[Graystone Ballroom]], was withdrawn and transferred to GORDY 7023B as the "[[I Have A Dream]]" speech by Rev. Dr. [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]
* Black Forum Records.: Short-lived (1970–1973) [[spoken-word]] subsidiary that focused mainly on albums featuring progressive political and pro-civil rights speeches/poetry. Black Forum issued recordings by the Rev. Dr. [[Martin Luther King Jr.]], [[Stokely Carmichael]], [[Elaine Brown]], [[Langston Hughes]], [[Margaret Danner]], and others.<ref>[https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/louder-than-a-bomb-on-the-sounds-of-black-power/ Rickey Vincent, "Louder Than a Bomb: On The Sounds of Black Power" (review of Pat Thomas, ''Listen, Whitey!: the Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965–1975'')] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419034943/http://lareviewofbooks.org/article.php?type=&id=999&fulltext=1&media= |date=April 19, 2013 }}, ''Los Angeles Review of Books'', October 17, 2012.</ref>
* Natural Resources: This label was active from 1972 to 1973 and in 1976 as a minor subsidiary for white artists and instrumental bands. It later served as a label for Motown, Tamla and Gordy reissues and Motown compilation albums in 1978 and 1979.
* Motown Latino Records.: Short-lived (1982) subsidiary for [[Spanish language|Spanish-language]] [[Latin American music]].  Its only artist was [[Jose Feliciano]].
* Gaiee Records.: Only one single was released on this label, in 1975; Valentino's gay/lesbian anthem "[[I Was Born This Way]]", which was later covered by fellow Motown artist [[Carl Bean]] in 1977.

===Independent labels distributed by Motown===
* [[Biv 10 Records]]: A hip-hop/R&B label that was founded by [[Bell Biv Devoe]]/[[New Edition]] member [[Michael Bivins]]. The label operated throughout most of the 1990s. Its roster included [[Another Bad Creation]], [[Boyz II Men]], and [[702 (band)|702]].
* Chisa Records: Motown released output for Chisa, a label owned by [[Hugh Masekela]], from 1969 to 1972 (prior to that, the label was distributed by Vault Records).
* [[CTI Records]]: Motown distributed output for CTI Records, a jazz label owned by [[Creed Taylor]], from 1974 to 1975. CTI subsidiaries distributed by Motown included Kudu Records, Three Brothers Records, and Salvation Records. With a few exceptions, the bulk of CTI's recordings is now owned by [[Sony Music Entertainment]].
* Ecology Records: A very short-lived label owned by [[Sammy Davis Jr.]] and distributed by Motown. Only release: single "In My Own Lifetime"/"I'll Begin Again", by Davis in 1971.
* Gull Records: A UK-based label still in operation, Motown released Gull's output in the US in 1975. Gull had [[Judas Priest]] on its roster in 1975, but their LP ''[[Sad Wings of Destiny]]'', intended for release by Motown in the US, was issued after the Motown/Gull Deal had fallen through.
* [[Manticore Records]]: A record label created by the members of the rock group [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer]]. Manticore released albums by ELP and various other [[Progressive rock]] artists. Manticore was originally distributed in the U.S. by [[Atlantic Records]] from 1973 to 1975 but switched to Motown distribution until the label folded in 1977.
* [[Never Broke Again]]: A record label founded by [[YoungBoy Never Broke Again]]. The label releases compilation albums and has its own artists signed to the Motown/NBA imprint.
* EZMNY Records, [[Ty Dolla Sign]]'s record label that signed [[Leon Thomas III]].

===Miscellaneous labels associated with Motown===
* Groovesville Records
* Inferno Records
* IPG Records
* Rayber Records
* [[Ric-Tic Records]]
* Rich Records
* Summer Camp Records
* [[Tabu Records]]