Detroit’s smooth‐voiced R&B veteran Kem has officially wrapped up a 23‑year relationship with Motown Records, stepping into a new, more independent chapter of his career. The singer opened up on The Baller Alert Show with Ferrari Simmons and BT, speaking candidly about what spurred the move.
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Kem said that over the past decade‑plus the music business shifted, and while his relationship with Motown was always strong, with creative control and the freedom to release music when he wanted, the time came to reassess.
“In this season of my life, a married man with seven kids…navigating the space of fatherhood and a husband,” he shared. The change, for him, meant seeking more equity, more autonomy, and importantly, control over his masters.
He emphasized that leaving Motown was not about conflict:
“’Love Calls’ was the first single off of my own,” Kem says it’s a full circle moment; he began independently, found success, and now has “just came home.”
On whether he felt stuck in a long contract, he was clear: “No…everybody’s making money. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it…business was good when I left…both Motown and I will be making money off of that relationship for the rest of our lives.”
Looking ahead, he’s most excited about reconnecting with fans in a way he hasn’t been able to before.
