From black enterprise
4th February 2025
July 1981: Motowns 10 million dollar -gambling
July 1981: Motowns 10 million dollar -gambling
When Suzanne de Passe took over the reins as President of Motown Productions, she not only led a legendary brand – she steered her into a new era of entertainment. Black EnterpriseThe cover story in July 1981 examined its ambitious 10 million dollar bet on television and in film and prove that Motown was not just about music -it was about building a media empire.
Today, since black creative people continue to fight for property and control in Hollywood, the story of De Passe remains a blueprint for vision, leadership and risk to risk. The game has changed from Motown's legacy to today's media companies from black ownership, but the missions remain high.
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