I think another factor in the early adoption of Tamla Motown in the UK was the cultural aspect. The fact that it was almost overwhelmingly black people making the music and running the company was very appealing to young people. What we saw were highly attractive talented people making music and with rivetting stagecraft far superior to the usual homegrown stuff. The imagery was as distinctive and important as the music. Not only did we embrace the music, we loved the fabulous choreography, and wanted to look like the artists we admired [[even though we were primarily white!!!) Tightly cut mohair suits were the rage, we wanted to look as Edwin described in Agent Double O Soul and tried in vain to master the steps and harmonise.....honest!

And when February 1969 came around, how we so much wanted to be the winner of the Motown Mini!!!!!

https://classic.motown.com/story/story-behind-image-2/

On another note, in the UK, disc jockey Tony Blackburn of pirate radio, subsequently BBC, was the single most important enthusiast and promoter of soul in general and Tamla Motown in particular. He deserves huge credit and recognition for leading the airplay of Tamla on pirate radio when it was never played on the BBC, and immediately heavily featured it when he subsequently moved to the BBC. Furthermore he has, as we say, kept the faith and continues to play Motown and soul several hours a week on his four radio shows, at the age of 78, as youthful as ever!!!