Before creating this record label in 1959, its founder worked on a Lincoln-Mercury assembly line

Looking to find our latest Jeopardy! recap and Today’s Final Jeopardy? Click below!

Final Jeopardy 4/17/25 (Fictional Characters) & Who Won Thursday, 17 April 2025

Dressed in white in her first scene, this play character says her name means “white woods”

Find out the Final Jeopardy Answer for the episode airing on Monday, October 23 2023!

Today’s Final Jeopardy Category is: Music Men

Today’s Final Jeopardy

Before creating this record label in 1959, its founder worked on a Lincoln-Mercury assembly line

Final Jeopardy Answer

The Final Jeopardy Answer is: Motown

Final Jeopardy Explanation

Before launching the iconic record label Motown in 1959, its founder, Berry Gordy, was employed at a Lincoln-Mercury car assembly line. His experience on the assembly line later influenced his approach to music production, where he applied a kind of “assembly line” process to creating hits. At Motown, each element of the music production process was fine-tuned to produce high-quality, radio-ready hits. The label became synonymous with a style of soul music that blended R&B, pop, and, later, funk. It launched the careers of numerous legendary artists like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and the Jackson 5.

Motown, based in Detroit, Michigan, also known as “Motor City,” became more than just a record label; it was a significant cultural movement. Berry Gordy’s pioneering vision for Motown was to create music that could appeal to both black and white audiences at a time when racial segregation was still deeply entrenched in American society.

Gordy also implemented what became known as the “Motown Sound,” a distinct musical styling featuring catchy melodies, multiple back-up vocals, and a driving bass line. Financially, Motown was a great success, becoming one of the most successful independent record labels in history. Its impact wasn’t just commercial; it also had significant social implications. Motown’s crossover success helped break down racial barriers in the music industry, giving a platform to Black artists and musicians.