DOWNTOWN'S MOTOWN MOVE

The catalog of William “Mickey” Stevenson, the head of Motown A&R during the label’s 1960s heyday, is on its way to Downtown Music Publishing, including Stevenson co-writes like “Dancing in the Street,” “Devil With the Blue Dress” and “Stubborn Kind of Fellow” and a host of songs recorded by Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops and others.

“Our partnership covers many songs that are near and dear to me, and I have full confidence that my creative legacy is in good hands,” Stevenson said.

Downtown Music Publishing Global President Mike Smith said, "Opportunities to work with a catalog of this caliber don’t come around often. It's a genuine privilege to work with someone like Mickey, who is not only an important songwriter but a pivotal figure in the musical legacy of Motown. Beyond songwriting, Mickey’s contributions as the head of Motown A&R in the 1960s and his establishment of Motown’s studio band, The Funk Brothers, helped to cultivate the ‘Motown Sound’ that is foundational to pop music.”

Downtown helpfully assembled a Spotify playist of tracks in the catalog.