Before the world heard the “Motown Sound,” Berry Gordy saw it on a factory floor. In this premiere episode of Motor City Frequencies, we strip away the polished image of the Supremes and Temptations to reveal the industrial engine that powered them.

We trace the direct line from the Lincoln-Mercury assembly line to the “Quality Control” meetings at Hitsville U.S.A., proving that Detroit’s music wasn’t just magic—it was manufacturing.

In this episode, we cover:

The Ford Connection: How auto-plant logistics were used to build pop stars.

The Funk Brothers: Meet the jazz musicians in the basement who played on more #1 hits than the Beatles, yet remained anonymous.

The “Snake Pit”: The secrets of Studio A, including the hole cut in the attic that created the legendary echo.

James Jamerson: The genius bassist who played with “The Hook” (one finger) and changed the frequency of the city.

The Sandwich Test: The brutal voting system producers used to decide if a song would be released.

Featured in this series: The Detroit Party Podcast presents Motor City Frequencies, a 6-part audio documentary chronicling the evolution of Detroit culture from 1959 to 2026.

Listen below to follow the journey from Motown to Techno.

Before the world heard the &ldquo;Motown Sound,&rdquo; Berry Gordy saw it on a factory floor. In this premiere episode of Motor City Frequencies, we strip away the polished image of the Supremes and Temptations to reveal the industrial engine that powered them.
We trace the direct line from the Lincoln-Mercury assembly line to the &ldquo;Quality Control&rdquo; meetings at Hitsville U.S.A., proving that Detroit&rsquo;s music wasn&rsquo;t just magic&mdash;it was manufacturing.
In this episode, we cover:
The Ford Connection: How auto-plant logistics were used to build pop stars.
The Funk Brothers: Meet the jazz musicians in the basement who played on more #1 hits than the Beatles, yet remained anonymous.
The &ldquo;Snake Pit&rdquo;: The secrets of Studio A, including the hole cut in the attic that created the legendary echo.
James Jamerson: The genius bassist who played with &ldquo;The Hook&rdquo; (one finger) and changed the frequency of the city.
The Sandwich Test: The brutal voting system producers used to decide if a song would be released.
Featured in this series: The Detroit Party Podcast presents Motor City Frequencies, a 6-part audio documentary chronicling the evolution of Detroit culture from 1959 to 2026.
Listen below to follow the journey from Motown to Techno.

The Detroit Party Podcast

Welcome to the ultimate hub for Detroit culture, art, and music. As we countdown to the massive Detroit Party in 2026, we are bringing you the stories that define the 313.

Featuring our debut deep-dive series, Motor City Frequencies: A journey through the evolution of Detroit music. Discover how the "Motown Sound" and the 1967 riots paved the way for P-Funk and the global Techno revolution.

Covering: Motown, Garage Rock, P-Funk, Techno, House, and the Contemporary Art scene.

Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes, event news, and the history you won't hear anywhere else.

The Detroit Party Podcast
Welcome to the ultimate hub for Detroit culture, art, and music. As we countdown to the massive Detroit Party in 2026, we are bringing you the stories that define the 313.
Featuring our debut deep-dive series, Motor City Frequencies: A journey through the evolution of Detroit music. Discover how the "Motown Sound" and the 1967 riots paved the way for P-Funk and the global Techno revolution.
Covering: Motown, Garage Rock, P-Funk, Techno, House, and the Contemporary Art scene.
Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes, event news, and the history you won't hear anywhere else.