Meet Detroit: The City That Moves You

When Convening Leaders kicks off in January, make sure you put Visit Detroit’s experiential activation at the top of your must-visit list. It’s where you’ll experience the evolution of music and the impact that Detroit has had on the industry. Starting with blues in the 1920s and the Jazz Age in the 1930s, take a step back in time with the smooth sounds of harpist Alice Coltrane, trumpeter Donald Byrd, and drummer Louis Hayes while enjoying the ambiance of Detroit jazz clubs like Aretha’s Jazz Café, Cliff Bell’s, and Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. Or perhaps you’re interested in where many Motown musicians got their start, which brings you to churches as stages and artists like Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder singing gospel favorites.

Next stop: Rock’n’roll.

Rock around the clock with Visit Detroit and experience the sounds that swept airwaves in the 1950s. R&B also gained popularity during this time, evolving from Detroit’s rich jazz and blues history. This genre opened up the doors and continued the musical evolution in Detroit with hip-hop music and notable artists like Eminem and Big Sean. By the 1980s, Detroit had become the birthplace of techno music and the beats still flow through the city today.

Experience just a sliver of all that a meeting in Detroit has to offer you at 2023 PCMA Convening Leaders and meet with the Visit Detroit team in the University Area of The District at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. You’ll get a front-row seat to the hottest show in town and see how Detroit has solidified itself as an iconic meeting destination that gets you moving, grooving, and dancing in the streets!