October 15, 2020
Stevie Wonder Leaves Motown Records After Nearly 60 Years, Announces New Music On His Own Label
You can say he epitomized the Motown sound! An 11-year-old Stevland Hardaway Morris signed a recording contract with Motown Records’ Tamla Records in 1961, and the young boy, who would come to be known as Stevie Wonder, has been a Motown artist until now.
In an announcement this past Tuesday, Wonder revealed that he is launching his own imprint, So What The Fuss Records, under the Republic Records/Universal Music Group umbrella, effectively ending his nearly 60-year relationship with the fabled Motown Records, according to The Associated Press.
The announcement was made during a virtual press conference Tuesday and he also spoke of his health after saying he “was blessed with a new kidney” last December.
“Since I have been released from the hospital, the nurses have made sure I’ve taken my medicine on time and I’m going to do it for as long as I have to, even if it is the rest of my life. I feel great. My voice feels great,” Wonder said. “I feel like I’m about 40 right now and I just thank everyone for the prayers and the love.”
“And for all of the people that have been listening to these rumors, listen, if I’m feeling some kind of way, I’ll let you know,” he continued. “We don’t want to have misinformation. I am alive and well.”
Along with the new label declaration, Wonder introduced two new songs, “Where Is Our Love Song” and “Can’t Put It In the Hands of Fate,” which will be distributed through his new label, So What the Fuss Music, distributed through Universal Music Group’s Republic Records.
All proceeds from “Where Is Our Love Song,” which features Grammy-winning guitarist Gary Clark Jr., will benefit Feeding America.
Rappers Busta Rhymes, Rapsody, Cordae, and Chika appear on “Can’t Put It In the Hands of Fate” and Wonder said he plans on including the songs on a new EP.
“Change is right now. We can’t put it into the hands of fate. Ain’t nobody got time to wait,” he said. “We can’t put it the hands of fate finding a cure for this dreadful virus. We got to get on our knees and pray or whatever you do.”
“I want everyone to be well,” he continued. “I don’t care what color you are because actually, I don’t see your color. You see color, don’t act like you don’t see color, you do. But I don’t see your visual color. But I do feel your soul. I do feel your spirit. I see the color of your spirit and soul, and I’m seeing too many spirits and souls that are not about the love that we’re supposed to have and feel for one another.”