"Motown's policy was to build one act at a time or their favorites"

In this quote, Brenda Holloway offers insight into the tactical and perhaps selective method adopted by Motown Records throughout its prominent years. "Motown's policy was to construct one act at a time or their favorites," recommends that Motown had a focused strategy, choosing to develop select artists with great care and attention instead of spreading their resources extensively across all signed skills.

This method aligns with Motown's well-documented credibility for grooming its artists for mass appeal and industrial success. The label was understood for its assembly-line hit-making process, where groups and vocalists were diligently trained, styled, and packaged before existing to the public. The expression "one act at a time" suggests a concentrated effort to support and promote a single artist or group to stardom, ensuring they received the essential assistance and resources to optimize their potential.

Additionally, the mention of "their favorites" mean a more subjective selection procedure, where specific artists received favoritism potentially because of their special talents, marketability, or positioning with Motown's vision. This could be a sign of the nature of the music market, where choices aren't entirely based upon objective requirements however are also influenced by personal predispositions, relationships, and viewed star quality.

Holloway's words can be viewed as important or simply observational, shedding light on the intrinsic pressures and competitive nature of becoming part of a successful music label. For artists who were not the "favorites," this might indicate lower opportunities for promo and growth, in spite of their skills.

In sum, this quote encapsulates a strategic yet subjective aspect of Motown's operations, reflecting both the label's success in building legends like Marvin Gaye and the Supremes and the difficulties dealt with by other artists in getting equal footing within the renowned Motown household. This technique undoubtedly contributed to Motown's supremacy in the music industry, while likewise highlighting the competitive imbalance that existed among its lineup.