The Stronghold Group will represent Motown

[Jonel]

Story Filed: Monday, July 22, 2002 8:03 AM EST

LOS ANGELES, Jul 22, 2002 (ENTERTAINMENT WIRE) -- The Stronghold Group, a leading entertainment brand management firm, announced today a worldwide representation agreement with the Motown Record label for the accompanying Motown brand name, marks, and logos.

Stronghold will seek to leverage the intrinsic equity of the Motown brand name through the creation of the Motown apparel brand and accessories, as well as innovative extensions of the Motown brand into electronics, gifts and collectibles, home accessories and furnishings, and a broad-based technology initiative. Motown and Universal Music Enterprises will manage all aspects of the merchandising and licensing programs.

"We are very excited to have The Stronghold Group represent us in these various capacities. Through the years, Motown has not only meant unparalleled music, but it also proved that there is a common bond across different races and cultures. This great tradition continues today and is why we have adopted the motto: Artistic Integrity; Our legacy, our future", says Kojo Bentil, Senior Vice-President of Motown Record Company.

"The work we do will compliment the tremendous efforts currently at the label. With Motown, it is especially important that while we leverage the brand, we also safeguard its value to the fans. Whether it's the new Motown line of apparel or electronics, there always will need to be a connection to the heritage of Motown," explains Ray Doustdar, Vice President of The Stronghold Group.

Motown Records has left an undeniable mark on the music industry as well as popular culture. Throughout the 1960's and 1970's, the music of legendary artists such as The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, and The Jackson 5 defined what Berry Gordy called the "Sound of Young America". The Motown label of today remains a powerful influence on the musical landscape. In 2002, Motown artists received fifteen Grammy Award nominations. Current Motown artists such as Grammy nominated and multi-platinum selling artists Brian McKnight, Erykah Badu, and India.Arie continue to set the standard for music excellence. Motown remains one of the select numbers of record labels able to brand its sound and image. The Stronghold Group agreement relates to the Motown name and its logos, and not individual artists.

"Motown has spent over 40 years earning its reputation as one of the world's top entertainment brands. The power of Motown to unite people and generate strong emotional ties with its fans, presents a major opportunity to expand Motown's positive involvement in people's daily lives. We are pleased to have the Stronghold Group work with this truly important American icon", says Charlie Katz, Senior Vice President Strategic Marketing, Universal Music Enterprises.

About The Stronghold Group

Headquartered in Los Angeles, The Stronghold Group is the nation's premiere entertainment brand management firm, representing artist, athlete, and entertainment property in the areas of brand management, licensing, merchandising, commercial sponsorships and endorsements, professional representation, event packaging and proprietary product development. Stronghold's services provide artists and entertainment properties with tremendous brand building and brand extension opportunities, in addition to lucrative sources of long-term, ancillary income. The Stronghold Group currently works with music artists such as Dave Matthews Band, Linkin Park, Nelly, Korn, and Sugar Ray; entertainment and lifestyle brands such as Motown and Playboy; models such as Victoria Silvstedt and Karen McDougal; and athletes such as extreme sports superstars Daewon Song, Stevie Williams, and street luger Pamela Zoolalian.


CONTACT: The Stronghold Group
Ray Doustdar, 323/951-1890
[e-mail]
or
Universal Music Enterprises
Sujata Murthy, 310/865-7812
[e-mail]
or
Motown Records
Serena Gallagher, 212/841-8201
[e-mail]


Copyright (C) 2002 Business Wire. All rights reserved.

[Jonel]

Current Motown artists such as Grammy nominated and multi-platinum selling artists Brian McKnight, Erykah Badu, and India.Arie continue to set the standard for music excellence.

True. The legendary Motown artists defined "The Sound of Young America" in the 60s...but the promoters need to make certain that some of this number (i.e., The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder) are STILL current artists with recent grammy awards and platinum albums. They should be included as "current" and promoted as having the ability to make contributions to the contemporary music industry. It's this advertising mentality that keeps the Temptations' singles from being released and promoted to contemporary markets. Why go to all the trouble of hiring contemporary writers and producers (i.e. Joe, Gerald Levert, Narada Walden) if you're not going to promote the songs? Why put out such great CDs if you're not going to record a music video and promote a new single?

[janebse]

Excellent, Jonel.

I thought it was interesting that The Temptations were the first ones mentioned in the listing. That, at least, is a hopeful sign.

I agree with everything you say. I wish we could bombard Motown with letters.

I read today where this guy who had been left out the 4th of July program for obscenties in one of his records got such a protest writing group in force that his last album will probably #1 next week.

[AKA THE FUF]

Jonel, great information. I for one will be emailing Motown and whoever else about what I think. As I've said in another link, some of The Temptations older albums are not on cd's. Music is for everyone so why aren't there music being pushed the way it should be. Again Thanks for the 411.

[janebse]

Exactly where do you email Motown? Is it Motown.com or what?