What record label was founded by Berry Gordy in 1959?

The record label founded by Berry Gordy in 1959 was Motown Records.

Gordy established the company in Detroit on January 12, 1959, initially naming it Tamla Records. The label was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in April 1960. “Motown” combines “motor” and “town,” reflecting Detroit’s identity as the center of the American automobile industry.

The company developed a distinctive, polished style of soul music often called the Motown sound. Its recordings featured memorable melodies, strong backbeats, arranged strings and horns, and highly disciplined studio musicians. Artists such as the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and the Four Tops turned the label into a pop and R&B powerhouse.

The question can cause confusion because Gordy used several subsidiary labels, including Tamla, Gordy, Soul and Motown. Tamla was the original imprint, but Motown Records is the accepted name for the company and cultural institution founded by Gordy. The label also played an important role in bringing Black artists to large crossover audiences during the 1960s.