Can Motown ever be brought back?

[Megatron Island]

This isn't even in response to the Grammy's, it's an idea that was brewing in my head for a minute. If you look at the time when Motown was thriving, plenty of the acts were in their 20's. Why can't it happen today? I don't know of too many people that don't like that music. Young people and folks that grew up with it still love the sound.

I know the music is different (an understatement) from back then, but I don't think it necessarily has to replace any of today's sounds. The r&b acts can co-exist with them, much like how Neo-Soul is another category. Let the live instruments be the track (no need for mega-producers), take a classier approach to a singer's/groups appearance (modern suits/dresses), and just more music in the "My Girl" route- sing about relationships, life, and love. Make it sound and look traditional, not like an infusion of r&b.

Can this work today?

 

[kevm3]

No because we're in the era of corporate factory produced music where the cheapest/lowest common denominator element that will sell is what will be pushed. Music isn't about who has the most talent or even reasonable talent anymore. It's whoever is willing to become the puppet to the A/R's and whatever else the corporate drivemasters feel is the most acceptable image to sell. That's why so many of these videos all have the same theme and it's all about the same low quality drivel.

We've actually had a couple of 'old school' sounding cds such as that R. Kelly Love Letter and the one Raphael Saadiq did, but not too many people probably heard about them because they didn't get a huge push in the mainstream.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

This isn't even in response to the Grammy's, it's an idea that was brewing in my head for a minute. If you look at the time when Motown was thriving, plenty of the acts were in their 20's. Why can't it happen today? I don't know of too many people that don't like that music. Young people and folks that grew up with it still love the sound.

I know the music is different (an understatement) from back then, but I don't think it necessarily has to replace any of today's sounds. The r&b acts can co-exist with them, much like how Neo-Soul is another category. Let the live instruments be the track (no need for mega-producers), take a classier approach to a singer's/groups appearance (modern suits/dresses), and just more music in the "My Girl" route- sing about relationships, life, and love. Make it sound and look traditional, not like an infusion of r&b.

Can this work today?

When there's a will, there's a way. There's more than likely a big enough market for it for at least the novelty of someone making a good effort to bring the music back. In addition, I read a great article on Motown recently wherein it was described as "...a city that pulses and beats to the sound of music that's in the fight for its life." That's no small compliment. The best artists always come around during the darkest times, so you gotta have at the very least, a little faith in the struggling artists striving to make it there right now. That town has loads of untapped talent right now. Don't count it out for its creative potential.