United Sound Systems

United Sound Systems is a recording studio housed in a 1916 building on Second Avenue with multiple recording spaces and vintage equipment. The facility retains original machines and rooms that have served musicians since the 1930s for their sound production work.

The studio recorded Berry Gordy's first label production in 1959, marking the start of what would grow into Motown Records. This moment launched a music company that would reshape popular music across the globe.

Musicians across many genres gathered here to create work that shaped popular music, bringing different styles and traditions into the same rooms. These collaborations forged a place where artistic exchange happened naturally, reflecting the city's role as a creative crossroads.

The location sits in a residential neighborhood on Second Avenue and is accessible by public transportation. Visitors should know that visiting arrangements depend on availability, and it is helpful to check ahead before planning a trip.

In 1946 the facility hosted Inter-Racial Goodwill Program recordings, making it an early integrated recording location in the United States. These sessions show that artistic collaboration broke barriers here decades before it became standard practice elsewhere.