Hitsville NEXT Celebrates Completed Phases of Expansion

Two phases of the highly anticipated Motown Museum expansion are now complete and a Detroit-style celebration was held Monday, Aug. 8, boosted by attendance from distinguished Motown alumni that included Smokey Robinson and Martha Reeves. The celebratory event marked the grand opening of Hitsville NEXT, the new educational programming and creative hub, and the newly established Rocket Plaza, thanks to a $5 million contribution from Rocket Companies and the Gilbert Family Foundation. 

It was in 1959, that Motown was created by Berry Gordy where music legends were made and hits were created right in Gordy’s family residence, now dubbed ‘Hitsville.”.

“63 years later, Motown still stands as the Museum and now the first two phases of the newly built expansion is completed to continue the legacy that they paved the way for our future generations. The vision for this ambitious project that was first announced in 2016—and that so many generous and committed supporters have contributed to—is now a reality. Not only are we back—but we are back, bigger and better than ever.”

ROBIN TERRY, MOTOWN MUSEUM CHAIRWOMAN AND CEO.

Highlighted by energetic musical and spoken word performances, Terry was joined for the grand opening of Hitsville NEXT by musical legends including Motown’s own Smokey Robinson. “Come to the new Motown where they can learn about music, how to record music just like he did when he first started,” says Smokey Robinson, “Detroit is rising back up. We may have fallen but we’re not dead. Detroit is making a comeback in so many ways. World you better look out because we’re rising to the top.”

Also the festivities of the evening were highlighted by commentary from iconic Motown stars including Otis Williams, an original founding member of The Temptations who gifted microphones to the museum from his personal collection, which is so meaningful because of the significance of inspiring emerging artists in the place where the Motown legacy was built. Fellow Motown alumni Duke Fakir, Shelly Berger and Martha Reeves were also in attendance to lend star power to the celebration.

Hitsville NEXT will offer community-focused programs, workshops and events designed to activate and inspire future generations of creatives, artists and entrepreneurs. Headquartered within three historic, Motown-era buildings at 2654-2658 W. Grand Boulevard—previously owned by Motown Records—Hitsville NEXT will feature professional recording pods, community activation space and premier programming to foster emerging talent. Programs featured in the Hitsville NEXT line up include its spoken word competition Motown Mic; Amplify, a singing competition; The Lyric Project songwriting workshop; and Spark summer camps.

Rocket Plaza will serve as a welcome destination for museum visitors, meant to inspire joy and creative collaboration with regularly activated performances by local talent and unique opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs. Inspired by a time when young Motown acts like Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops would hang out in front of Motown’s headquarters, the Plaza will be the ultimate Motown-inspired community gathering space. Both were designed by Detroit-based architectural firm Hamilton Anderson & Associates.

Performing for the crowd were next generational songwriters who are signed to the Motown label, Imani Forbes, Samuel Pickens, Tavion Knight, King Bethel and Dion Jackson Jr. who came together as a group – The Fab 5 to pay tribute.

The museum is also welcoming visitors back for tours of Hitsville U.S.A. beginning Sunday, Aug. 14 following pandemic- and construction-related closures. The tours resuming on Aug. 14 will be a soft reopening with the museum offering abbreviated walking tours of portions of Hitsville U.S.A., including Studio A and the museum’s campus.

For more information on Founder’s Day and to book museum tours, visit www.motownmuseum.org.