Motown played an important role in the racial integration of popular music as an African American-owned record label that achieved significant crossover success. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, has also become a nickname for Detroit.
as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, and was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960, in Detroit, Michigan. The record company was founded by Berry Gordy, Jr.