“Motown Mic: The Spoken Word” Competition Series

Motown Museum announced today that it will host its fifth annual Motown Mic: The Spoken Word competition series on Fridays in April from 8 to 10 p.m. at Motown Museum. Motown Museum Chairwoman and CEO Robin Terry made the announcement.

“In its fifth year, we continue to be blown away by the incredible talent from all walks of life that come to share their art at this competition series,” said Terry. “As we strive to inspire the next generation of talent and provide creative outlets for them express themselves, we are excited to open our doors once again to share this wonderful event with people of all ages.”

Motown Mic: The Spoken Word invites poets to perform original pieces. Poets of any age can perform in the open mic events, but must be 18 years or older to be considered for the competition series. Every week throughout the month-long competition, two winners will be chosen by a panel of judges to advance to the grand finale on May 25 at the Garden Theater where they will perform Motown-inspired pieces and compete for the opportunity to be named the 2018 Motown Mic: The Spoken Word Artist of the Year, win a $1,000 cash prize and have their work published on a literary broadside.

"Motown Mic inspires artists to reflect upon the rich artistic legacy of Motown Records and Black Forum,” said 2017 Motown Mic: Spoken Word Artist of the Year winner Will “The Poet” Langford. “This poetry slam series showcases the myriad of ways that the rich musical and spoken word tradition is alive and thriving in the Motor City. From the legendary entrepreneurship of Berry Gordy to the resonant poetry and prose of Langston Hughes, Motown Records is a veritable vault of creation inspiration. It is an honor to share the Motown Mic performance stage with some of Detroit’s most vibrant and engaging spoken word artists as we build community and concord through our voices, and through the celebration of our progenitors."

Motown Mic: The Spoken Word was created to pay homage to Motown Records’ Black Forum Label—a Motown spoken word label created by Berry Gordy and the Motown Corporation in the ‘70s as a venue for Black expression and education. The label served to capture the voices of African American poets and orators such as Langston Hughes, Stokely Carmichael, Elaine Brown, Ossie Davis and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose moving and inspirational “I Have A Dream” speech was recorded by the label. As Motown revolutionized the music industry, its Black Forum Label documented the social consciousness of a generation—Motown Mic: The Spoken Word is a continuation of that rich legacy.

Open to the public, the events will take place at Motown Museum April 6, 13, 20 and 27. General admission tickets are $10. Performers, students with ID, and Motown Members who present their membership cards can purchase tickets for $5 at the door. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Motown Museum is located at 2648 West Grand Blvd. in Detroit.

For more information on Motown Museum, including hours of operation, visit http://www.motownmuseum.org or call 313.875.2264.

About Motown Museum

Founded in 1985 by Esther Gordy Edwards, Motown Museum is a 501(c)(3) not for profit, tax-exempt organization in Detroit. The Museum is committed to preserving, protecting and presenting the Motown story through authentic, inspirational and educational experiences.