Calling local musicians: Motown Records to launch accelerator program, $20,000 grants

Motown Records executives weren't kidding last year when they said they were determined to reestablish a foothold in the label's hometown.

The Detroit-born, Los Angeles-based record company is announcing a program geared to Detroit-area musicians that will include hands-on coaching, networking contacts and $20,000 grants. Four artists or groups will be selected for this summer's inaugural 12-week program, and submissions are being accepted through July 5 at motownmusicianaccelerator.com.

The project — a partnership with the Motown Museum, Capitol Music Group, TechTown Detroit and Gener8tor — will also select four to six metro Detroit start-ups for a program dubbed gBETA Musictech. Geared to local firms involved in music technology, the seven-week program will be based at TechTown, the business-incubator village in Detroit's New Center district.

Five more start-ups will be solicited internationally for a gBETA Musictech program at the Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood, home to the modern Motown Records operation.

During a December visit to the Motown Museum — the Hitsville, U.S.A., complex where Berry Gordy started his musical empire — Motown Records President Ethiopia Habtemariam told the Free Press she was intent on reconnecting the label with its Detroit roots. On hand with her that day was a contingent of new artists on the Motown label, heirs of a sort to the young singers who helped build Motown's name in the '60s — Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and others.

Gordy moved Motown to L.A. in the early '70s, and the label has operated under Capitol Music Group since 2014.

"Detroit has always been a creative hub for new talent and development," Habtemariam said in a statement. With the accelerator program, "we have an opportunity to come back to Detroit and highlight the incredible talent that has always existed in their community."

For the four selected Detroit artists, the $20,000 grants can be used for studio time, travel, photo shoots and other essential needs. The program will be free, and participants won't be giving up royalties or other income streams.

Grants are being funded by the Esther Gordy Edwards Family Foundation, Microsoft, Hassan Bazzi and others.

The start-ups chosen for the Musictech project at TechTown will work with Detroit entrepreneurs, music industry professionals and venture capitalists.  Firms can apply at gBETAmusictech.com.

Paul Riser, director of TechTown's Detroit Urban Solutions, is the son of iconic Motown arranger and trombonist Paul Riser. He said the new initiative is "truly a deep passion project for me."

"After observing the unfortunate decrease in investment for creative arts in schools, I've strived to not only be a part of the city's revitalization, but to contribute to a renewed intersection of music, innovation and entrepreneurship," Riser said in a statement.

There's also a public angle to the new accelerator program: Quarterly workshops will be held at TechTown, the Motown Museum and Capitol Studios in Hollywood, where music-biz professionals will speak about songwriting, touring, distribution and other topics.

It all comes amid a bustling 60th-anniversary year for Motown, including ongoing activities led by the Motown Museum on West Grand Boulevard, which will culminate with a starry Motown Weekend in September.

The museum has strengthened its ties in recent years with the regime at Motown Records, which was sold off by Gordy in 1988. The museum has also ramped up its own series of programs geared to aspiring hometown talent, including the Amplify singing competition, Motown Mic spoken-word contest and annual youth summer camps.

Museum CEO and Chairwoman Robin Terry said the newly announced programs continue "the tradition of entrepreneurship and opportunity that are cornerstones of the Motown story."

Musician hopefuls can apply at MotownMusicianAccelerator.com. Start-ups can apply at gBETAmusictech.com. People or organizations who would like to participate in either program as mentors, sponsors and other roles can email: partnerships@gener8tor.com.

Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum can be reached at 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@freepress.com.