Se7en said:

I was just listening to a Motown set yesterday on a commute, and with all of the artists -- Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Jackson 5, etc. -- I wondered why young Prince (circa 1977-1978) wasn't snatched up by Motown records or one of their labels? I mean, it seems like it would've been a perfect fit! Also wondered if Prince ever shopped his 90's/00's stuff to them, but by that point it's conceivable that he'd burned a lot of bridges.

Motown was the opposite of what he had in mind for his career, which was to not be filed with all the other black acts. He wanted to pop division of the record company to handle his output, not the black music division. So I doubt he would have seen being on Motown the right place to be.

Aerogram said:

Se7en said:

I was just listening to a Motown set yesterday on a commute, and with all of the artists -- Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Jackson 5, etc. -- I wondered why young Prince (circa 1977-1978) wasn't snatched up by Motown records or one of their labels? I mean, it seems like it would've been a perfect fit! Also wondered if Prince ever shopped his 90's/00's stuff to them, but by that point it's conceivable that he'd burned a lot of bridges.

Motown was the opposite of what he had in mind for his career, which was to not be filed with all the other black acts. He wanted to pop division of the record company to handle his output, not the black music division. So I doubt he would have seen being on Motown the right place to be.

Yup, there were a few record companies that actually turned him down prior to WB signing him. I'm not certain if Motwon was one of them. Though For You definitely has a R&B feel to it, you can certainly here the Rock & Roll in his veins at that point.

By the time he dominated the R&B charts in the 90's Motown had already been sold and not nearly as prominent as it once was.

So glad he never hooked up with Motown. If he thought things were crazy with the WB, it would have been worse with Motown. Even Rick James was trashing them when he was giving them hits.

My guess is he never wanted to join them as he knew they were a "Black" company that would only market to a Black audience with black orientated music. Okay there may have been cross over, but Prince knew in the late 70s, being on a white label would pitch him not to a white audience, but a general multi racial audience. Although none of the books I have read comment on his approach or views on Motown.

.

Another reason may be is that by 1977, Motown was no longer a major force in pop music, it's main stars were veteran but successful acts like Stevie, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross and Rick James was about to break through and the Commodores had just started their run of success. Also by 1977 the operation was LA not Detroit based. Prince also had an ambivalence to shows like Soul Train, as he did not want to be marginalised. Unlike the majors like American Bandstand, Prince would have got on Soul Train straight away had he tried. But some 80s videos had the soul train gang dancing to Prince songs on videos and Vanity 6 and the Time appeared several times (But Prince was aiming them at the R and B crowd) and of course Jessie Johnson and Morris Day also appeared as solo acts along with Andre Cymone too I think.

.

Plus Motown had a reputation of not treating its artists well, with low royalties, lots of album and song releases and constant studio work. Prince may have known of the Jackson 5's hassles in getting out and Prince would have been signed as a new performer and not got all the perks that Stevie and Marvin had by that stage with their contracts. Motown was the the label in the 1960s and even early 70s, but was past it by the mid 70s and was a B label through the 80s. After all Georgio and Vanity signed with them when their careers had hit rock bottom or were just starting.

SPYZFAN1 said:

So glad he never hooked up with Motown. If he thought things were crazy with the WB, it would have been worse with Motown. Even Rick James was trashing them when he was giving them hits.

I think Prince and Motown would have feuded as epically as Prince and WB did. I think Motown would have tried to pidgeonhold Prince (as specifically an R&B act) even moreso than WB tried to restrict Prince's output. That would have been an absolute powder keg waiting to explode because I think Berry Gordy might have been just as headstrong (or stubborn, depending on your perspective) as Prince. And I won't even mention (though I just did) the battle that might have taken place because Prince would have had to "get in line" behind legendary vets Stevie, Smokey, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, etc. Who knows if we would have gotten anything besides R&B Prince before the late 80s to mid 90s?

yeah,it wouldn't have worked out,but it's intriguing to think about Prince at Motown.Would they have given Prince the same control and freedom that they gave to Stevie Wonder? I'm sure that Prince was quite impressed with Stevie's 'Songs In The Key Of Life' project.

"Berry Gordy might have been just as headstrong"..............Without a doubt! This is the same guy who almost didn't let Marvin release "What's Going On?". Imagine if P went through that with "S.O.T.T"?..............."ambivalence to shows like Soul Train"...Yes. I always wondered why he was never a musical guest on the show back then. I thought Don Cornelius didn't like him, but it may have been part of P's strategy to not be pigeonholed (like you said) to R&B.........."Would they have given Prince the same control and freedom that they gave to Stevie Wonder?"........Nope!! (lol)..Berry probably would have thought; "Hey, we already have ONE Stevie...we don't need another". Didn't Stevie have his own distributor through Motown?.. (Tamla?)...I'm sure he loved "Songs In The Key" but he said he also loved "The Secret Life Of Plants" (Awesome btw)..."Motown was no longer a major force"....THIS. By the time "Plants" and "Here My Dear" came out, Disco and The Bee Gees were thriving and the popularity pretty much killed those records. Rick was the only one who brought some life back to Motown.

Damn..I almost forgot about Lionel. He had some good years with Motown.

Adorecream said:

My guess is he never wanted to join them as he knew they were a "Black" company that would only market to a Black audience with black orientated music. Okay there may have been cross over, but Prince knew in the late 70s, being on a white label would pitch him not to a white audience, but a general multi racial audience. Although none of the books I have read comment on his approach or views on Motown.

.

Another reason may be is that by 1977, Motown was no longer a major force in pop music, it's main stars were veteran but successful acts like Stevie, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross and Rick James was about to break through and the Commodores had just started their run of success. Also by 1977 the operation was LA not Detroit based. Prince also had an ambivalence to shows like Soul Train, as he did not want to be marginalised. Unlike the majors like American Bandstand, Prince would have got on Soul Train straight away had he tried. But some 80s videos had the soul train gang dancing to Prince songs on videos and Vanity 6 and the Time appeared several times (But Prince was aiming them at the R and B crowd) and of course Jessie Johnson and Morris Day also appeared as solo acts along with Andre Cymone too I think.

.

Plus Motown had a reputation of not treating its artists well, with low royalties, lots of album and song releases and constant studio work. Prince may have known of the Jackson 5's hassles in getting out and Prince would have been signed as a new performer and not got all the perks that Stevie and Marvin had by that stage with their contracts. Motown was the the label in the 1960s and even early 70s, but was past it by the mid 70s and was a B label through the 80s. After all Georgio and Vanity signed with them when their careers had hit rock bottom or were just starting.

Never bothered to read the rest of what you wrote, becaue that sentence, as Prince would say, 'we've got a problem right there'. The last thing Motown was intested in was being a black company that would only market to black people. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to Motown.

thetimefan said:

funksterr said:

Adorecream said:

My guess is he never wanted to join them as he knew they were a "Black" company that would only market to a Black audience with black orientated music. Okay there may have been cross over, but Prince knew in the late 70s, being on a white label would pitch him not to a white audience, but a general multi racial audience. Although none of the books I have read comment on his approach or views on Motown.

.

Another reason may be is that by 1977, Motown was no longer a major force in pop music, it's main stars were veteran but successful acts like Stevie, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross and Rick James was about to break through and the Commodores had just started their run of success. Also by 1977 the operation was LA not Detroit based. Prince also had an ambivalence to shows like Soul Train, as he did not want to be marginalised. Unlike the majors like American Bandstand, Prince would have got on Soul Train straight away had he tried. But some 80s videos had the soul train gang dancing to Prince songs on videos and Vanity 6 and the Time appeared several times (But Prince was aiming them at the R and B crowd) and of course Jessie Johnson and Morris Day also appeared as solo acts along with Andre Cymone too I think.

.

Plus Motown had a reputation of not treating its artists well, with low royalties, lots of album and song releases and constant studio work. Prince may have known of the Jackson 5's hassles in getting out and Prince would have been signed as a new performer and not got all the perks that Stevie and Marvin had by that stage with their contracts. Motown was the the label in the 1960s and even early 70s, but was past it by the mid 70s and was a B label through the 80s. After all Georgio and Vanity signed with them when their careers had hit rock bottom or were just starting.

Never bothered to read the rest of what you wrote, becaue that sentence, as Prince would say, 'we've got a problem right there'. The last thing Motown was intested in was being a black company that would only market to black people. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to Motown.

I sorta agree.Yes,Motown was a "black company" but Berry Gordy was all about crossing over.Look at Lionel Richie...he was practically the king of crossover in the 80s,lol.His records were promoted and marketed to pop radio.So I don't really agree with the idea that Prince would have been strictly marketed to R&B audiences if he had signed with Motown.

MotownSubdivision said:

You guys seem to have forgotten Lionel Richie, who was Motown's bread and butter for most of the 80's and basically was the face of the label since he went solo. I'm not saying Prince would have thrived at Motown but the label wasn't down and out even if its best days as a modern pop culture force were behind it. They had a potential gold mine in Debarge but their career never reached the heights it could have.

As I recall,Motown was doing OK in the 80s.It wasn't like their 60s heyday,but many of their artists were having big hits.Lionel Richie's solo career was thriving....Rick James was taking funk to new heights....DeBarge were extremely popular.....hell,even the Temptations (who had been around since the mid-60s) had a few major hits during this period ("Standing On The Top","Treat Her Like A Lady").....Stevie Wonder was still having lots of success,too....and then there was Mary Jane Girls,Rockwell,Dazz Band,Teena Marie,etc.

...

[Edited 5/29/16 10:42am]

Great responses, thank you to everyone.

I thought I had read that when Prince was farming around his first demo, he was met with rejection after rejection (and I don't think it was due to the "self-production" demands). Which made me think about Motown . . . were they one of the rejectors? Or did he never even approach them?

SoulAlive said:

SoulAlive said:

It would have worked. Maybe even better than the WB deal.
He would have came right around the time Rick James did. That might have been the only problem right there. Rick was much more successful at the get-go than Prince. Rick was aloud his protégé‘s, so Prince (most likely) would have too.

Also, there were different sub-labels at Motown. You had the main label Motown with Commodores, Diana Ross, Jermaine Jackson. The Tamla label with Marvin Gaye, Stevie and Smokey. The Gordy label with Rick James, Teena Marie, DeBarge. I always wondered how they decided who'd record on which label. Prince is probably sent to the Gordy label or the main Motown label looking at who was where in 1977-1978.

I could see tours with Rick James, Prince, Switch in 1980.

And, imagine if Prince is a performer on Motown 25. That right there would out him over the top, even before Purple Rain. Motown had a movie division also, so Purple Rain would have been made. Maybe even more films, with his success.

Also, Prince would have kept Motown afloat and Berry would not have sold in 1988.
When Prince was at his peak in the mid 80s', Motown was slowly dying. Rick James was not selling like he used to. Jermaine Jackson, Smokey, Diana Ross had all left the company. El DeBarge didn't turn out how they liked it. Lionel Richie was done after 1986.

Prince would have been hailed as the savior for Motown.
Also, even more Michael Jackson comparisons, had he been at Motown lol.

funksterr said:

Adorecream said:

My guess is he never wanted to join them as he knew they were a "Black" company that would only market to a Black audience with black orientated music. Okay there may have been cross over, but Prince knew in the late 70s, being on a white label would pitch him not to a white audience, but a general multi racial audience. Although none of the books I have read comment on his approach or views on Motown.

.

Another reason may be is that by 1977, Motown was no longer a major force in pop music, it's main stars were veteran but successful acts like Stevie, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross and Rick James was about to break through and the Commodores had just started their run of success. Also by 1977 the operation was LA not Detroit based. Prince also had an ambivalence to shows like Soul Train, as he did not want to be marginalised. Unlike the majors like American Bandstand, Prince would have got on Soul Train straight away had he tried. But some 80s videos had the soul train gang dancing to Prince songs on videos and Vanity 6 and the Time appeared several times (But Prince was aiming them at the R and B crowd) and of course Jessie Johnson and Morris Day also appeared as solo acts along with Andre Cymone too I think.

.

Plus Motown had a reputation of not treating its artists well, with low royalties, lots of album and song releases and constant studio work. Prince may have known of the Jackson 5's hassles in getting out and Prince would have been signed as a new performer and not got all the perks that Stevie and Marvin had by that stage with their contracts. Motown was the the label in the 1960s and even early 70s, but was past it by the mid 70s and was a B label through the 80s. After all Georgio and Vanity signed with them when their careers had hit rock bottom or were just starting.

Never bothered to read the rest of what you wrote, becaue that sentence, as Prince would say, 'we've got a problem right there'. The last thing Motown was intested in was being a black company that would only market to black people. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to Motown.

Wish you would read all of my posts, yeah I know too many big words I guess. If you read further I state that in the 1960s they were a leader but not by 1977.

.

Also guys stop with the Lionel Richie stuff already, in 1977 the Commodores had one Pop Top 10 hit with easy, all their songs before them were R and B smashes rather than pop ones. Starting with easy they hit the pop charts more, but Lionel Richie did not strike gold until 1982 as a solo act after the chart apartheid has gone.

.

Prince was the one who had problems with Blacks becuase he refused to join a black label. Don't shoot me I am just the messenger.

Adorecream said:

MotownSubdivision said:

That's when he dropped his first solo album which was quite successful so Lionel Richie definitely does count.

Yeah but the solo album dropped in 1982, not in 1977 or 1978 where he had only had 1 number 1 hit with easy and then 3 times a lady hit big in 1978.

.

Don't get me wrong, Lionel Richie is one of my favourite artists and easily the most talented person left at Motown. I saw him in concert back in 2014 and he is still amazing. I am just saying we can't quote him being dangled as a piece of successful bait to attract Prince to the label in 1977. I doubt Motown would have signed him anyeay unless he was an attractive young female that appealed to BG.

.

1977's flavour was Vernessa Mitchell, the 19 year old lead singer of Hign Inergy and instantly seen as desirable by 47 year old Berry. Their first song "You can't turn me off, in the middle of turning me on" was great and a hit, but High Inergy fizzled after that.

Adorecream said:

daingermouz2020 said:

I don't think Prince at Motown would have worked at all. Prince had a lot of freedom at Warner from the very first album. Motown to my knowledge would not have allowed that. If he had I do believe he would have put out some stellar R&B albums. But I don't believe he would have become the Prince we know/knew and love. Michael Jackson blew up after leaving Motown. I believe it's been said Aretha Franklin's father felt Motown being a black owned company wasn't big enough and would have restricted her. [Edited 5/29/16 19:59pm]

If the Motown suits weren't too keen on Diana Ross's 1980 album with Chic (as originally recorded), imagine their reaction if Prince had submitted the Dirty Mind album. That one would undoubtedly still be buried in the Motown vaults under lock and key to this day.

UnderMySun said:

Don't forget Motown was still going strong in the 90's when they signed Boyz II Men & one of my favorite Singers of all time Mr. Brian Mcknight (He's a self-absorbed jerk) but I still Respect his Musical Gift..

Chancellor said:

Se7en said:

I was just listening to a Motown set yesterday on a commute, and with all of the artists -- Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Jackson 5, etc. -- I wondered why young Prince (circa 1977-1978) wasn't snatched up by Motown records or one of their labels? I mean, it seems like it would've been a perfect fit! Also wondered if Prince ever shopped his 90's/00's stuff to them, but by that point it's conceivable that he'd burned a lot of bridges.

Lol.........Prince wasn't trying to do formula "Black" music at the time.

His career would have last 3 albums.

Chancellor said: