Ivan Berry

From the year 1983 to present, a substantial number of Canadian acts that has gained any notoriety in the hip hop and R&B field can credit, either directly or indirectly Ivan Berry. Ivan Berry and Rupert Gayle started BeatFactory to manage Gayle's group and this partnership has grown into a lucrative corporation that manages the careers of the top urban music artists in Canada.

Since that beginning step, the artists that Ivan works with have sold millions of records worldwide. He also prides himself on signing the first Canadian rap artist to an international record deal, signing the most rap, hip hop and R&B artists to record and publishing deals, attaining the most international releases for Canadian rap, hip hop and R&B artists and selling more rap, hip hop and R&B records worldwide than any other manager.

Ivan Berry and his BeatFactory roster has included such noted acts as Dream Warriors (Island Records), Michie Mee & L.A. Luv (First Priority/Warner Music), Index (Bigshot Records), Love & Sas (BMG Music), Devon (EMI Music), Rupert Gayle (A&M Records / BMG Music Publishing), Split Personality (A&M Records), HDV (Isba/Sony Music), Krush & Skad (Island Records), Rumble (Gee St. Records), Organized Rhyme (The Tom Green Show) (A&M Records), Jazmin (Attic/Song Corporation), Bliss (BMG Music), Mathematik (BeatFactory/Page), Madlocks (BeatFactory/Page), Glenn Lewis (Electra Records), Kuya (BeatFactory), RapEssentials and GroovEssentials (BMG Music) and numerous others. His most famous and notable client is hip hop group Dream Warriors. The group emerged almost out of nowhere in 1990 and went on to sell 800,000 copies of their ground breaking hip hop/jazz album, "And Now The Legacy Begins". The Dream Warriors have won numerous awards, scored international top 10 hits and continue to produce music which is on the cutting edge of the genre with songs like "My Definition Of A Boombastic Jazz Style", "Wash Your Face In My Sink" and "Ludi".

In September 1996, Ivan Berry started a record label division of BeatFactory committed to a multi-level development of urban music in Canada. This label furthered BeatFactory's vision of seeing urban music at the forefront of the Canadian Music Industry. Because EMI Music Canada distributed Ivan's music division, the label had the distinguished title of being the first urban music label in Canada to be nationally distributed by one of the five major record companies in the world.

Heading into the Millennium, Ivan is predominantly a manager who still handles the careers of Dream Warriors (Isba Music), Rupert Gayle (BMG Music Publishing), Mathematik (BeatFactory) and Bliss (BeatFactory).

Ivan has learned much over the years and he wants to give back to the community by sharing his experiences. He regularly contributes his time, energy and money to various community organizations. He also teaches an International Marketing program regularly at the Harris Institute Of The Arts. Ivan Berry is well known for his openness and approachability. His expertise is constantly called upon both by up and comers in the music industry and record label executives that appreciate his understanding of the urban music scene and the mainstream. Ivan is also the co-creator of the St.Kitts Music Festival, which happens every year at the end of June. This successful festival is yet another testament to his vision and love for urban music coming out of the Caribbean.

Of urban music in Canada, Ivan says: "...until the word "represent" means "support", there will never be a progressive urban music industry in Canada. And until we unite to educate ourselves more about the business, there will always be music but never a music business." With Ivan Berry and BeatFactory, Canada can be assured of the ongoing development of Canadian urban music on an international level.

For 5 years, Ivan has been the "Head Of A&R" and International" for Sony/BMG Canada. His duties included the signing, recording, development, international exploitation and marketing of Sony BMG Canada's domestic roster on an international level. Artists such as Keshia Chante, Wyclef, Shawn Desman, Sloan, Rascalz, Treble Charger, Gino Vannelli, In Essence, The Guess Who, Ryan Malcol (Canadian Idol), Audrey DeMontigny (Canadian Idol), Kalan Porter (Canadian Idol) and numerous others were all part of his job description.

At the end of 2004, Ivan became "Senior Partner International" of Ole. Ole is a globally competitive, Canadian owned and Toronto based, full-service music publisher. The company was founded by Managing Partners, Robert Ott and Tim Laing. The company enjoys initial, mid-eight figure financing and is aggressively engaged in acquisitions. ole already controls thousands of songs including several top U.S. hits. Ole is committed to being the best and most innovative global destination for world class songwriters, composers and management talent and the first choice music source for creators in all media.