PODCAST:
June 9, 2026 ~ WJR’s Director of Community Affairs and News Marie Osborne debuts her first special report on America 250: Michigan Made.
DETROIT, MICH. ~ To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, WJR’s Director of Community Affairs and News Marie Osborne is looking back at the memorable contributions that the state of Michigan has made to the cultural fabric of the country. Aside from Detroit being known as the Motor City, Motown has been making waves since the 1950s, and still exists today.
Founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in 1959, the record label has boasted countless superstars like the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder.
“Unlike most record companies, Motown was almost completely self-sufficient. It had its own in-house songwriters, backup musicians, recording studios, producers, everything else that you’d need to cut a record,” Osborne said on Focus with Paul W. Smith.
A sign for Hitsville U.S.A. and the Motown Museum still stands at 2648 West Grand Boulevard, where the original headquarters was located. The museum is undergoing a $75 million renovation and is projected to open in early 2027, showcasing how Motown became the soundtrack of the city’s grit and hope.
