Probably yes. As long it does not cause substantial likelihood of confusion with others already using the mark. If you were a manufacturer of submarines, Motown Submarine Inc. is not likely to cause you problems. However, if you owned a record shop named Motown Recycled Vinyl, you will likely have problems.
It's located in Detroit, which is known as The Motor City....Motown is a shortened version.
motown +++ When it first appeared, back in the 1960s, the word "Motown" was often prefixed with the name "Tamla". A style notable for strong melodies and arrangements, and tight rhythms.
The Funk Brothers
Emanuel Steward's Place was the name of the restaurant. It was on Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit.
Its first hit was Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)" (1959), which made it to #2 on the Billboard R&B charts; its first #1 R&B hit was "Shop Around" by the Miracles in 1960. "Shop Around" peaked at number-two on the Billboard Hot 100, and was Motown's first million-selling record. Also in 1960, Gordy launched Motown Records as a sister label. Because of the "Motown" name's association with "Motor City" Detroit, the blanket record company under which both Motown Records and Tamla Records operated was incorporated as "Motown Record Corporation". A year later, The Marvelettes scored Tamla's first US #1 pop hit, "Please Mr. Postman." By the mid-1960s, the label, with the help of songwriters and producers such as Robinson, William "Mickey" Stevenson, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Norman Whitfield, was a major force in the music industry.Source: Answers.com
It's located in Detroit, which is known as The Motor City....Motown is a shortened version.
motown +++ When it first appeared, back in the 1960s, the word "Motown" was often prefixed with the name "Tamla". A style notable for strong melodies and arrangements, and tight rhythms.
Motown "a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960."courtesy of wikipedia
Motown is a two-syllable reduction of the term "Motor City". It is a reference to Detroit, and is an affectionate, and music industry, term, not an official one.
Detroit has long been known as "The Motor City" because of its automobile industry. Motown is a shortened version of the nickname. Berry Gordy's recording company, originally called Hitsville U.S.A., eventually took on the Motown name.
Motown is short for Motor Town, a variation of the Motor City. It refers to Detroit, Michigan. It is the name for a style of music that was very popular in the 50's and 60's and typically consisted of groups of three or four singers. Some examples would be Dianna Ross and the Supremes, the Four Tops, the Isley Brothers and Gladys Knight and the Pips.
Motown is a derived/contrived word created by Berry Gordy,Jr. Since Detroit was called The Motor City because of the cars that were made there. Berry coined it MOTOWN and thus created a name for his record company. Though other names were experimented, this is the one that 'stuck'.
His name is Maurice D Davis aka Roadrunner from Detroit Mi. He was a Motown musician and my Dad. Unknow fact he cut that track in one take no charts.
Not a simple question. Though the Stax sound was different from the Motown sound being that more rooted in horns, and more southern tempo's. From the likes of Rufus Thomas and Booker T & The MG's as compared to Jr. Walker 'gut bucket' on Motown's SOUL label and The All Stars from Motown. (Jr. Walker originating 55miles from Memphis in Blytheville, AR) The Stax sound in my opinion was a little more rawer, and unpolished than the studio sound that Motown produced. No real comparison nor wish to. But the Muscle Shoal horns didn't have anything equivolent in Detroit, and Stax did not have the drums/percussions that Motown had. There is no real comparison, just being able to enjoy both is a treat. Since both the sound is rooted in the South, Motown started mixing things up with violins, and other instruments that were not used much in Memphis that used primarily Drums, Guitars, Trumpets/Brass, Bass and Piano or Wurlitzer & Hammond Organs.
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr.
Smokey Robinson