Entrepreneur, manager, and entertainment consultant, Ian Burke is known to hip-hop and R&B artists as “Dreamweaver”—a nickname that reflects his extraordinary talent for building relationships and using those connections to make the most of opportunities as they arrive. Regardless of your own professional aspirations, Burke’s inspirational story serves as living proof that the best way to rise is by lifting others.
FMM: You have an extraordinary talent for building relationships and using those connections to make the most of opportunities as they arrive. How was Atlanta a catalyst for your success?
Once the industry moved here people were looking to get into the industry, so I was able to create alliances with people before they actually blew up in the business. It just made my situation easier being here in the late 80s earlier 90s I got to know quite a few individuals that were looking to do their thing in this business. I continued that trend to make strategic alliances who I saw were making headway in the business. So, when their time came, I would already have a relationship with them versus trying to create one when they have blown up.
FMM: Why is Atlanta the cornerstone for Hip-Hop and R&B Artists success today?
It was just our time. New York started it, West Coast took it to another level and it was time. Southern Hip Hop had been in the background for so long and its not like we didn’t have artists we were just regional artists at that point. And then when people started breaking from Atlanta like Kris Kross and Arrested Development, what it did was crack the door open for more music coming from the south. Then OutKast kicked that door open wide, because they were received so well people were more open to listening to music from the south or the southwest. Eventually, we started to make really strong power moves and take over. One particular point in time we were only known for the strip club music that Uncle Luke was putting out. They weren’t playing that type of music in New York or Los Angeles so but when artists like UGK or MGJ and OutKast started coming out people were a whole lot receptive to those artists.
FMM: When working with Artists, take us through the key elements of your strategy as a Manager and A&R director?
My key element is to make sure that the artist has something that people would be interested in. When I see a potential artist, I look to see if whether or not people are paying attention when they are in the room. If you are just the average person, you walk into the room, you associate, network or whatever, but there is something that happens when a person has that flavor, they have that look, they have that swag you know that have that really strong confidence without being cocky when they walk into the room people notice that it’s a vibe the artist gives off. I look for that type of vibe when people walk in the room. That is the first quality that pulls me in and then at that point I’m asking, “Can you sing? Can you dance? Can you rap?” Even if they are not as proficient as others in doing those things, they could be a star. A lot of these super stars they really can’t sing, but they’re vocal stylist. They are stars too.
FMM: Please share your rising stars.
Right now I have Olivia Blue who is a singer/songwriter.
Mattie who is a teenage singer/actor/dancer/model
The Sauce Boys Gianni and Carlos Sauce who are also actors/rappers/dancers/models and influencers.
FMM: Tell us about your music documentary and what was important to you.
My music documentary just kind of follows my career in the music industry after I moved here from Mt. Vernon, NY, my hometown. Moving here to Atlanta and creating once again those alliances with people who ended up becoming very strong in the business. Not only that, but making my own niche by working with recording artist that have become international sensations like Arrested Development, Kris Kross, TLC, OutKast, Xscape, Akon, Bobby Valentino, Goodie Mob artists like that I have had the privilege of working with as either a manager or A&R director to help get them to where they are. It also goes into how I worked with producers/songwriters like Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri, Organized Noize, Kandi Burruss, Tiny Cottle, Lani Stewart, She’kspere I worked with those folks as well in the producing and songwriting element as well.
FMM: What would people be surprised to know about you?
As a youngster, I wanted to be a Marine Biologist. I was able to follow that goal a little bit transferring into film and television by helping my brother’s dream come true. My brother is a formal Navy Salvage Diver and he also teaches children how to scopa dive and introduces them to ocean conservation. He wanted to do something to show his work to the world. So, we created a TV show called The Aquatics. We shot the pilot and we are in the process of shopping it for a network or steaming deal.
FMM: Share your projects and vision for 2023.
I have a bunch of young talent now that I want to get out there, especially on the film and television side. In 2023, my goal is to make my company 360 Digital Media Group LLC really take off and expand into new Horizons by developing TV shows and untimely films that embodies the younger generation. That the younger generation can appreciate.