What's stopping Detroit from capitalizing on its rich music scene?

Madonna, Mitch Ryder, the White Stripes, Bob Seger, Eminem, Kid Rock... oh, then there's Motown with the Temptations, the Four Tops, Diana Ross... Wait, how about Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, the MC5... oh, and Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye. Whatta list -- and all from Detroit (or the Detroit area). So, with such a lofty legacy of musicians, and coupled with the pulsating, overflowing, vibrant scene of local musical talent, why has it been so difficult for Detroit to capitalize on its musical riches?

Excerpt:

All of these cities have made their music scene a major tourist draw. And not just for the big festivals, but week in and week out at clubs and small theaters. People gravitate to these places as destinations to hear great live music.

But that hasn't happened for Detroit, despite the decades of immensely popular music associated with the city.

W. Kim Heron is the editor of the alternative weekly newspaper The Metro Times. A veteran Detroit journalist and music writer, Heron says Detroit did once have such a district. But it got buried, literally, a half-century ago when they built the freeways that intersect this automobile capitol. "Our Beale Street is somewhere under I-75," Heron says.

One member of the Detroit City Council says Detroit needs to do more to promote its musical legacy. Her name is Martha Reeves. And yes, she is that Martha Reeves from Martha and the Vandellas.

"I've gone to other cities and seen statues and plaques depicting the wonderful, great artists that were created and discovered in the different hometowns," Reeves says. "And since Motown left Detroit in the '70s, there has been very little memorabilia."

Read the entire article here.