# Early Motown songwriter Janie Bradford Hobbs dies in Los Angeles after illness at age 87

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-22 20:29 UTC · Category: Entertainment · Sources: 14 · Current Velocity: 14.03

## Executive Summary
Early Motown songwriter and pioneer Janie Bradford Hobbs has died in Los Angeles following an illness at the age of 87.

## Intelligence Brief
Early Motown songwriter and co-writer of the hit song "Money (That's What I Want)" Janie Bradford Hobbs has died in Los Angeles at age 87 following an illness, according to reporting from ABC News, The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, and the Detroit Free Press. Coverage emphasizes her historical status as one of Motown's earliest employees, having contributed foundational work during the label's formative era.


Outlets such as Rolling Stone and the Detroit Free Press highlighted her integral role in shaping the early sound and catalog of the Detroit record label. Obituaries and notices from sources including WV News note her passing, while current reporting does not yet specify memorial arrangements or further upcoming tributes.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### Who was Janie Bradford Hobbs?
She was an early Motown songwriter and one of the label's first employees, known for co-writing the song "Money (That's What I Want)."

### At what age did she die?
She died at the age of 87.

### Where did her passing occur?
Coverage states she died in Los Angeles after an illness.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Los Angeles, What I, Early Motown, Janie Bradford Hobbs, Janie Bradford, Songwriter Dies, Obit-Janie Bradford Hobbs, Janie Bradford Motown Songwriter Who Co-Wrote

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide Open Country | Motown Pioneer Dead at 87 After “Extended Illness” | 2026-08-22 17:02 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxNTTZySHpEWlExNzVYUDJtcnFxdDZJWkZqbDlubTBGa1AwLUpIa1pzQXc0blZOeU1BSGt0LW1zTGZhVXd6R2RvS01VQmhYdWhwX0VkYmNKV2hxUEZQSHpLdlZwdWduc0ZpTjU0dkdZYmlaNmNDTHJJRWtuNGZqYzBfRVY2UGpJQUh0?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Janie Bradford Dies at 87: The Songwriter Who Helped Build the Motown Sound | 2026-08-22 17:02 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxPS0VJTFE5ZVpCWFlhcHYwMzBFaWFqZWIyM09xaGdwcFgxYjVOYTRJdjN2a3ZjcDM0MXVIY3puOE1Za0RTWnEwTVljenBjdGxrLTRCY2FOQ01ud3NzTEtYU3hxOUhKSlJrbWRmcHEyeld2c3VFRGU5NjBuT2piQlZEcnlKbHN1R255UlJNZGdiX0lSVFhoTEwxelFsWElwbUFn?oc=5) |
| The Hollywood Reporter | Janie Bradford, “Money (That’s What I Want)” Songwriter, Dies at 87 | 2026-08-22 17:02 | [Source Link](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/janie-bradford-dead-money-thats-what-i-want-songwriter-1236679050/) |
| timesdaily.com | Obit-Janie Bradford Hobbs | 2026-08-22 17:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxPV0tickV1LUY5U0hMOS1wSFRBZENlQVc1Mk9nYi1ROWZ6bHdKMENPejhJWjBrR0lFbmpreXJiazlRX0lMeFk0QVVMNlpKNDdNY3E0cDk4cG1UanBNYXdnbkpESjZCUG1Sakhkc3gweEJSdVB0SWc2bmpJR3RuN0h5UFdFMUFyZDBWcnJDcW10V2pFdlNPWVkzazZ5cTF5WHZVemJ2dFFxQXZ4S3NQaFl3Y1lB?oc=5) |
| New York Post | Janie Bradford Hobbs, Motown ‘unsung hero’ who co-wrote ‘Money,’ dead at 87 | 2026-08-22 17:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiswFBVV95cUxPRmJhckt5ajlzMGxTUHdjV1dQeUNXV2NTTFlFdzg5VmgtVWRiekxlTjY0eDBsOTVCdmMzOHVBQm5FdXZqQXBzLUhWU3ZYb0lJRW9lRmtoZDJuVGR4NFlUVVNPaTU4T3BUblVoRVVZdGhiWkZwcnh1dE1XclppSzdBdElzLUNWSmhhODZJbndSVzl1MmZlekdaTEk3QlZPQm1mQURDQ2QyY01ON3F0VWpUaFAzWQ?oc=5) |
| facebook.com | Janie Bradford was Motown's first receptionist, the cowriter of "Money" and a devoted keeper of the label's legacy. She died Friday in Los Angeles. See link below ⬇️ 📸 Emma McIntyre, Getty Images | 2026-08-22 17:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi4AFBVV95cUxPbWVZdGhHVU04cFVNNlRRNWpsaG02YTdsaWE5Z0tMRW5RSjk2QUJ2bE9JeFk4b21QYkxTMnJQMzA0cnBaRVdLNVdBNklId0htQ0V3blh2eHU2em8zVGNyNWV2WVNJQUtfUExvWDlPX3IzNmptZ3huSGpVeEE5clJSTjF3cnB3bzRJS2VPbVZkck8yQmFLZUdzdnZyak5BbkJNWFhnbmhadE8xU2cxY2JEUkJTWktiZmVfLXZXdWJjRDc1cHlrbWQyelFBMWRfNU1SMVlqdk9oVWdBb1EzblZuYw?oc=5) |
| WV News | Obit-Janie Bradford Hobbs | 2026-08-22 17:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxNUzY0M1NvVjh5b0dEU0JRUzBBYWNqdnIwT0Q0QlUzTUxQV1RTRlZjN19jakNKaVY4azNXMkJmanZ0OVo5VVR5UnVVUWFWUG8zNGlWVmFGWF9PV3RLTFlfQVRLRjl6Z0NFMFJsTEZwclZwbEhfejByUXFHSWx2dnpXT29BeGNMN0o4N2doZXhvaDJtcG92dmxrMkJmU1F3SU8wVDhkcm14bFBtdW53?oc=5) |
| The Hollywood Reporter | Janie Bradford, “Money (That’s What I Want)” Songwriter, Dies at 87 | 2026-08-22 17:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxOS19Na3hKRTNtZmhyc3BpQVFLdjJYcDNCakhmbTRCQXFzdFhPeEdJZFM2azk5b2ttWThMdVMtWXQtbGVzYVFqdHhDNlhOVzhpWlhQVXNaU0dqUzFOZ1pDQlBjNHEtVDNQREtPNWVaQVpBX2ltcWpDRW9oVmxHaVAwc045OERyRUtjQWttNTVBVGd1TU5MTkRqWnpuLXdsNmJZeWJzbmZEbktKMng4bFJhRl9ESG1fdlUy?oc=5) |
| Rolling Stone | Janie Bradford, Motown Songwriter Who Co-Wrote ‘Money (That’s What I Want’), Dead at 87 | 2026-08-22 17:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxPVlNhMDc3d1p0Q3BVTDc1a3gyMko3Z1JmdHNrM1R4c2MxMWktVWpISFROeVBDUFp1a0tVd3ptLUxIYUYzWGd6cTBaV3FiNnRsaG9RbXlfUDN0TUJqcW93QzhIaHJLSHU2Q3dQTkR1UDVNS1RQNHFWTHBmLUZ1OXlvOUh6VmFyZEVKQTZUbDdNRERnZ19kWVBjMHRGT3pEWU51cU1hUXY0X0MwR1Q4ZEJJ?oc=5) |
| Detroit Free Press | Songwriter Janie Bradford, among Motown's first employees, dies at 87 | 2026-08-22 17:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxQZjNGMVBYRXl0LVdaUDFwN1F0SEtHbmxQMFhrTHRZMWQ0TjJjZkVmZG5QTGNlT093TWZvSmNSOGJKMmpQbHEwNTZheEZ0WTlLbnlwWWZZTDBXdXZCNUtkWnNfTnRpYTBCYWgzR1dtS3pfUWFGdzJ1YlZDTnJNRE1NR0xzOUNZSEFsWkFjVzd4amRqRWVyOUJQa3M4NEQ2THowZjRYcldvVDVoZkpPZVB5SllybGxTbDVC?oc=5) |
| ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos | Early Motown songwriter Janie Bradford Hobbs dies in Los Angeles after illness at age 87 | 2026-08-22 17:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxQbkhvVy1fcmZrS2k3elp1dDBldDNSTlBMeUtHWFhWUnZQeXZST3lOZ1FjVkE4ZENUYUpqZEVqaG1OLVVHS3VEZFJwb3J2QllmbHdNdlJ5QjF1RzFmTkFtRGU3QnY2c0tJNlg4bVZBQm44YlVWVWxHcUdDM0hNazFzZ1JTMlF0VlBobjBZeE9fbVNaVV82d1dQVjVhS0NYLVhGNWlJRjlCVG5jUWPSAbABQVVfeXFMUFVhcERoNXgxQ04yMzBoRUlYRm5TLUM2Qmt1RHdUYnl4V2owaE9YeENMeE1oOW5kU2xsRURveFpkWjBSSVZ5Y0FLVVZfcWJQVG15XzlLc2d4XzJZck5HSkZTcGpBNUtNVklzOTltQkVwLWpwNFAzZGxiSVFtbUZ3M3pVXzBtM3JuUW9JQ1NTdmR5dDNFWlM4S2p5M1pDRmNyQmZBdmpGVnh) |
| PennLive.com | Motown music legend dead at 87. Here’s what we know | 2026-08-22 16:47 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxQU0N0NWdqNXhta2RaZ3VLcEgzcVFUcFhqRENfdmlweDBUSDN6NXgwYk1ZbnE1RU9FSFZ6c2dzNlJPMzRsR25fS0l3WWZndjVBY3Fsa3FPZWdiRzh3QTh1aW14NldOTDU4SU1QaWhia3FhdlRHODJJQkpkNk9UWGhLZ1pjN3lXVExwNFVtakFDbnptcGczYUg4WmNtbVhfaEpOS1FF0gG3AUFVX3lxTE9LazVXUVkwV2pKa2VELTVUTWFrb3cwaDdNSThKbnZ4aE9STmtaZWtCd2RUU21fNml3SmFtX2EzaElYdlZESmx1OWQ4c3YwclRlcnRodXl0NHNHQTRVazloWU5uRmU1dTRVNkp3MklDdUd5ODBrcFJfdEdWa0FvT0VrRkRiU05RYXBEdjh1SkNwVnIxMllCeG5tYjVTcXI2S3plNDgwb1FmNlRLbTBZeEU) |
| KCCI | Motown legend Janie Bradford Hobbs dead at 87 | 2026-08-22 16:47 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxQd3g5TmxvOG9RbjFDSU9FVTJoTC1QMks1dVdpQ0pSellIbjZIZW80dEN6X1BzcEhhb1ZGVkZjVUlxdHhqX0NkdVJ3TVVMNjE0TnNDRS1qWnVoV3kzVEVkQm5FWlNiSDR0YThiTmVjcGY2SmQxQ3NXUVJfRkRKZW9CYnppZkZ5TXVBWlpn?oc=5) |
| Fox News | Motown songwriter behind 'Money (That's What I Want)' and other hits dead at 87 | 2026-08-22 16:47 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxOb2s1QWlGUnFkcXprRWpoTW92R3ZvdXZMa09ZdGp0aEFvb2g4bHpDOXJMVnczZ2ppWmxLd2h3NTdSSi00bUZrQW4weHJ5UW9nTlctaUlnbUU2bVJKU2w1Z3lzN0padmNZXzVPVk8wTnViQjdva3YycVdOZUxxNWxMbFdJMGVHMDJSSHh3Tk91RlVsYkUzUkl3dzFEWUxaWVpyOUEtMTNB0gGrAUFVX3lxTE81Z01sUi1JbnVwbkh0elVDZWJweDh6WTZYb056bnFCbVhSdFJaNlJnVFdzWnhmdVhQd1Q1VmFicmVhejQ0LXp0OHBMcDd0Z3pMQUpibTBLRjNoQXE1Qkl1RkE0RGE0VTkyQ0dLV0VzOXR1M1hlYWtWeDd3VXkzVHhFQ1hEcjhjUmhHdGVTcnV0d1g5TUVsWnJNX1NtYVIxS1V2Wkk5WEpqNGZlWQ?) |
| AP News | Early Motown songwriter Janie Bradford Hobbs dies in Los Angeles after illness at age 87 | 2026-08-22 16:47 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxObVVRbWVITHFYcXVqRDBBNEljVW9XeklaVTJ1N3Z5V2NBSkdOSmkzaU1PeXMweURUd1M3dklnLTFNVzItZVAwMkJoTEJjaUNPTzRtYVR1OUZtdVR0U2lFOG5FblB4NC1HaURNYVJTeEVaczUyZXJlWk9xbXVkb2RCQVdENFlXZ25VMVZhT2xIX3pxc2xJbjN3bnFxSkNPS0tNUkJ3NmNFcGE3QQ?oc=5) |

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