Mark S. Berry
{{Short description|American producer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mark S. Berry
| image = Mark Berry.jpg
| caption =
| birth_place = Northampton, Massachusetts, U.S.
| occupation = Music and film producer
}}
Mark S. Berry is an American music and film producer, and the chairman of AMG.{{discogs artist|Mark Berry|Mark S. Berry}}http://www.attackmediagroup.com/ Attack Media Group He has worked with Grammy and Juno nominated artists such as Carly Simon, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Duran Duran, Billy Idol, Boy George, Yes, Joan Jett, Cameo, Voivod and Kool & The Gang.
Berry has attained 36 international gold and platinum record awards for the artists he has worked with as a producer, engineer and mixer.
Biography
Mark S. Berry was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, and raised in Brooklyn, New York City. In his school years he started making recordings for basement bands in Manhattan.
In 1970, he entered the Institute of Audio Research (IAR) in Manhattan, graduating in 1972.
After graduating from high school (in the same year) in June 1972, he moved to London, UK. He started to work as an assistant engineer at AIR Studios under the tutelage of Sir George Martin and Paul McCartney on the Live & Let Die James Bond soundtrack.{{Cite news|title=Delight for talented Derry songwriter Michelle as she joins forces with legendary music producer|language=en-GB|work=belfasttelegraph|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/delight-for-talented-derry-songwriter-michelle-as-she-joins-forces-with-legendary-music-producer-38760872.html|access-date=August 23, 2021|issn=0307-1235}} His first major engineering assignment and very first credit was Carly Simon's "No Secrets" album. The song "You're So Vain" from this album was Grammy nominated in 1973 for Song of The Year, Record of The Year & Best Vocal Performance. The song is ranked at No. 92 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of All Time. "You're So Vain" was also voted No. 216 in RIAA's Songs of the Century, and in August 2014, the UK's Official Charts Company crowned it the ultimate song of the 1970s. In 2021, "You're So Vain" was ranked #495 by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.{{Cite web|date=September 15, 2021|title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/|access-date=November 4, 2021|website=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}
Returning to New York City in 1976, he took a position as Staff Engineer/Mixer and A & R Producer for Vanguard Records. Working there for 12 years, he became interested in hip-hop culture and worked with several artists of the early NY hip-hop movement, including Afrika Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force, Arthur Baker & John Robie.{{Cite web|last=Radio|first=N. T. S.|title=Mark Berry {{!}} Discover music on NTS|url=http://www.nts.live/artists/66889-mark-berry|access-date=August 23, 2021|website=NTS Radio|language=en}}
In early 1981, while engineering & mixing numerous dance hits at Vanguard Records, Mark met a young New York-based writer/producer named Bobby Orlando, aka Bobby "O". Mark signed him to Vanguard Records after referring him to A&R VP Danny Weiss. Mark engineered and/or mixed many Bobby "O" Vanguard productions & recordings including:
- "Desire", "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" – Roni Griffith
- "Passion", "Calling All Boys", "Danger", "Jukebox – Don't Put Another Dime" – The Flirts
- "Native Love (Step by Step)", "Walk Like a Man" – Divine
- "She Has A Way", "Attraction", "I'm So Hot For You" – Bobby "O"
Mark was regarded as an innovator in the hi-NRG genre for developing this signature sound; utilizing a powerful pulsating beat, new wave-style vocals and heavy synthesized bass, cowbells, and the signature tribal temple/wood blocks. The ringing cowbell percussion lines and robotic sequencers heard in "She Has A Way," "The Best Part of Breakin' Up," and "Native Love (Step By Step)" have been described as defining the Bobby "O" trademark sound. Mark's engineering & mixing has influenced various Eurodisco, Tropical House, Techno, Italo-disco, Electronic ("EDM"), and Hi-NRG releases internationally. He has been cited by music historians for his contribution to dance music.
In the mid to late 1980s he started making international dance remixes and worked as a producer of major international recording acts.{{Cite web|title=Mark S. Berry|url=https://burningtheground.net/tag/mark-s-berry/|access-date=August 23, 2021|website=Burning The Ground: DjPaulT's 80's and 90's Remixes|language=en-US}}
In 1991, Mark S. Berry relocated to Toronto and started his work in rock production after signing with Steve Scharf Management. His Canadian productions have included I Mother Earth, two platinum albums for The Headstones, The Killjoys, Nothing In Particular, Fence, Burton Cummings (The Guess Who) live concert platinum solo effort, "Up Close & Alone".
He started attending Innis College, University of Toronto, for an undergraduate program in cinema studies. In 2013, Mark was a keynote speaker at MIDEM '13 Conference in Cannes, France, and Music Industry China (MIC) in Taipei, Taiwan.{{Cite web|last=eMinor|title=Mark S. Berry {{!}} Pop from Toronto, ON, CA|url=http://www.reverbnation.com/marksberry|access-date=August 23, 2021|website=ReverbNation|language=en}}
Since 2019, Mark has been appointed as a judge for the Short Film category at the Global Short Film Awards in conjunction with the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France. He was named to the jury at the 2022 Global Short Film Awards.{{Cite web|last=Webster|first=Daniel|date=October 22, 2021|title=BUSINESS: AMG Exec Mark S. Berry Named To Jury For The 2022 Global Short Film Awards Held At The 75th Cannes Film Festival|url=https://dweb.news/2021/10/22/business-amg-exec-mark-s-berry-named-to-jury-for-the-2022-global-short-film-awards-held-at-the-75th-cannes-film-festival/|access-date=November 4, 2021|website=dWeb.News|language=en-US}} Mark is also a guest judge and named to jury at the LaJolla Fashion and Film Awards in LaJolla, California for the 2019 & 2022 season.
In September 2019 Mark was inducted into the dance music industry's, Legends of Vinyl – Hall of Fame with an award for his body of work Producing, Engineering & Mixing some of the biggest dance hits of the 70's & 80's.{{Cite web |date=September 15, 2021 |title=The 2021 "Legends Of Vinyl's "Gala Awards Night" New York DJs and Artists Hall Of Fame, Tuesday, September 14th, Reviewed |url=https://rocknyc.live/the-2021-legends-of-vinyls-gala-awards-night-new-york-djs-and-artists-hall-of-fame-tuesday-september-14th-reviewed.html |access-date=June 10, 2022 |website=Rock NYC |language=en-US}}
Mark and AMG have ventured into the feature length film production business as Executive Producers of the 2015 live concert docu-film from rap superstar Drake with "Drake: Homecoming", released internationally through the AMC theatres specialty division, Specticast.{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2022 |title=Drake taught me how to rap, says Jack Harlow |url=https://www.contactmusic.com/news/drake-taught-me-how-to-rap-says-jack-harlow_6342135 |access-date=June 10, 2022 |website=Contactmusic.com}}
A Shudder channel original feature, "The Sacrifice Game" names AMG executives Mark S. Berry & Duane Farley as Executive Producers along with Philip Kalin-Hajdu & Albert Melamed…AMG is also Music Supervising. The film stars Mena Massoud (Alladin), Madison Baines (Transplant), Olivia Scott Welch (Fear Street), Chloe Devine (Depraved) & directed by Jenn Wexler.{{Cite web |last=Vagg |first=Neil |date=May 10, 2022 |title=Shudder To Debut Jen Wexler's THE SACRIFICE GAME |url=https://getyourcomicon.co.uk/blog/2022/05/10/shudder-to-debut-jen-wexlers-the-sacrifice-game/ |access-date=June 10, 2022 |website=Get Your Comic On |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=May 6, 2022 |title=SHUDDER BOARDS '70S HORROR THE SACRIFICE GAME |url=https://www.amcnetworks.com/press-releases/shudder-boards-70s-horror-the-sacrifice-game/ |access-date=June 10, 2022 |language=en-US}}
Mark is also Executive Producer of the feature film, CryptoHeads, slated for 2022 release on streaming networks.
In June 2022, Mark announced his upcoming Spring 2023 book release of Risking Nothing Would be Way too Risky for Me.
AMG
Mark started his AMG business activity in 1998 with startup capital from the music publishing division of Canadian film giant Alliance Atlantis. He launched AMG as a media company to sign and promote artists and insert music into film streaming content. The company is based in Toronto, Canada and has satellite offices in the US (NYC), Hong Kong, China (Beijing), South Korea (Seoul).{{Cite web|title=Mark S. Berry, Chairman at Toronto's Attack Media Consolidates All Entertainment & Management Divisions to One Corporate Entity: AMG. - Free Online Library|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mark+S.+Berry,+Chairman+at+Toronto%27s+Attack+Media+Consolidates+All...-a0441770542|access-date=August 23, 2021|website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}{{Cite web|last=SeoToaster|title=AMG's Mark S. Berry Appointed Judge at This Years Global Short Film Awards.|url=https://newslify.com/amgs-mark-s-berry-appointed-judge-at-this-years-global-short-film-awards-1455881752.html|access-date=August 23, 2021|website=newslify.com|language=en}}
AMG is divided into several departments:
- AMG Brand Relations;
- AMG Label Services;
- AMG Artist Management;
- AMG Visuals;
- AMG Music Licensing & Publishing.
The two main music publishing divisions are 50% owned by international music conglomerate BMG Rights Management (New York).
In 2015, the AMG Visuals department Executive Produced Drake's live AMC concert film "Drake: Homecoming".{{Cite web|last=Grow|first=Kory|date=March 17, 2015|title=Drake Concert Film Producer Says Rapper Has 'Sour Grapes'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/drake-concert-film-producer-says-rapper-has-sour-grapes-191230/|access-date=August 23, 2021|website=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}
AMG music distribution is done through affiliate divisions of Sony Music and Universal Music Group.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
AMG partnered with the AttackTrax music supervision agency to expand their music into film/TV services.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
In 2015, the company started its partnership with Shanghai Media Group (China).{{cn|date=July 2023}} In October 2021, the company partnered with Factory Film Studio and started feature film co-productions.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
= Discography =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%;" |
| scope=col | Artist
! scope=col | Credit ! scope=col | Album ! scope=col | Label |
|---|
| Burton Cummings
|Producer/Mixer/Platinum |Up Close And Alone |Universal |
| Punch Buggy
|Producer/Mixer |My Norwegian Cousin |Sour/Sony |
| Popgun Picnic
|Producer/Mixer |Stinks Like Truth |Independent |
| Blasternaut
|Producer/Mixer |Eden Pit |Attack |
| Sicboy
|Producer/Mixer |Artificial Flavors |Attack |
| Vertical Creep
|Producer/Mixer |Vertical Creep |Attack |
| Pop Cherry
|Producer/Mixer |Straight Up |Deevel |
| Teenage Head
|Producer/Mixer |Head Disorder |Loudrock |
| Headstones
|Producer/Mixer/Platinum |Teeth and Tissue |Universal |
| Spirit Pushers
|Producer/Mixer |Time, Light, Shine, Free |a-Rabian |
| Fence
|Producer/Mixer |No Dumping |a-Rabian |
| Sisters Cherrie
|Producer/Mixer |I Think Therefore, I'm Fuct |a-Rabian |
| Bootsauce
|Remixer |Bootsauce |Polygram |
| Voivod
|Producer/Mixer |The Outer Limits |Universal |
| Headstones
|Producer/Mixer/Platinum Album/Double Platinum Single |Picture Of Health – "When Something Stands For Nothing" |Universal |
| Michelin Slave
|Producer/Mixer |Poised To Meet The Maker |Magada |
| Love Chain
|Producer/mixer |Burn |Universal |
| Lee Aaron
|Producer/mixer/Double Platinum Single |Emotional Rain – "Odds of Love " |A&M |
| Nothing In Particular
|Producer/Mixer |Is That Right? |Kinetic |
| The Killjoys
|Additional Producer/Mixer |Starry |Warners |
| I Mother Earth
|Producer/Mixer |I Mother Earth |Indie |
| Joan Jett
|Producer/Mixer |Good Music |Sony |
| Mighty Mighty Bosstones
|12/7" Mixer |Last Dead Mouse |Polygram |
| Talk Talk
|Gold LP/U.K. |* Life's What You Make It |EMI |
| David Bowie
|12/7" Mixer Platinum LP/U.S |* Never Let Me Down |EMI |
| Duran Duran
|12/7" Mixer Platinum LP/U.S |* Meet El Presidente Proposition |EMI |
| Yes
|12/7" Mixer Platinum LP/U.S |* Big Generator – "Rhythm Of Love" |ATCO |
| Billy Idol
|12/7" Mixer Platinum LP/U.S |*Flesh For Fantasy |Chrysalis |
| Haywire
|Producer/mixer |Get Off |ATTIC |
| Pseudo Echo
|Producer/Mixer |2× Platinum/Australia Gold Canada Gold USA LOVE AN ADVENTURE "Love an Adventure" "Don't Go" "Living in a Dream" Also includes "Funky Town" Remixer (Top 5 U.S.) |EMI Australia BMG Int. |
| Kids in the Kitchen
|Mixer Platinum LP/U.S |SHINE "Current Stand" (Top 10 AUS.) "Revolution Love |Mushroom/Aus. SIRE/USA |
| Animotion
|Mixer Platinum LP/U.S. |*Obsession |Polygram |
| Indecent Obsession
|Producer/Mixer |Gold Single/Australia Platinum/Australia SPOKEN WORDS "Say Goodbye" "Come Back to Me" (Top 5 Australia) |Universal |
| The Chantoozies
|Producer/Mixer/Platinum Australia |Wanna Be Up (Top 5 Australia) "Kiss and Tell" (Top 10 Australia) |Mushroom |
| Joan Jett
|12"/Mixer |*Cherry Bomb |Universal |
| Jimmy Barnes
|12"/Mixer Platinum/Australia |Seven Days |Mushroom/Greffen |
| The Black Sorrows
|12"/Mixer Platinum/Australia |Never Let Me Go |Sony Australia |
| Jaki Graham
|12"/Mixer |*Set Me Free |EMI U.K. |
| The Eurogliders
|Producer/mixer |Dreamin – If You Don't Know |Sony Australia |
| Kool & The Gang
|12/7"/mixer Platinum LP |*Fresh-*Emergency-Mislead |Polygram |
| Love & Money
|12"/Mixer |River of People |Phonogram |
| Machinations
|Producer/Mixer 12" Mixer |Cars & Planes-Do to you |Mushroom |
| Jayne Reyne
|12"/Mixer |*Inside a Dream |EMI |
| Boy George
|12"/Mixer |Rip It Up |EMI Australia |
| Until December
|Producer/Mixer |*Secrets I Won't Tell |415/CBS |
| The Kane Gang
|12/7" Mixer |Gold LP *Respect Yourself |London/UK |
| Scarlett & Black
|12/7" Mixer |* "You Don't Know | Virgin |
| Anabella (BowWowWow)
|12/Mixer |War Boys |RCA/UK |
| Ian Dury & the Blockheads
|12"/Mixer |Sex & Drugs" "Hit Me" "Wake Up |donnée L4-D |
| Nick Heyward
|12/7" Mixer |Warning Sign | Arista/UK |
| Mink Deville
|12"/Mixer |Italian Shoes |Polygram |
| Nona Hendryx
|12/7" Mixer |*Baby-Go-Go |EMI |
| Cameo
|12" Mixer |LP *She's Strange |Polygram |
| Stephanie Mills
|12/7" Mixer |Gold LP * Medicine Song |Polygram |
| Gwen Guthrie
|12/7" Mixer |Gold LP Nothin' Goin on but the Rent |Polygram |
| Rene & Angela
|12/7" Mixer |*I'll be Good |Polygram |
| The Bar-kays
|12/7" Mixer |*Sexomatic- *Your Place or Mine-*Dance your body |Polygram |
| Confunkshun
|12/7" Mixer |*Burnin' Love-*She's Sweet-*Tell me what I'm Gonna Do |Epic |
| Marilyn
|12"Mixer |"Spirit in the Sky" |Epic |
| Loose Ends
|12"Mixer |Gotta Get your Body Movin' |Virgin/UK |
| Freeze
|Producer Mixer |2-LP Cuts |Beggars/Banquet UK |
" * " = Top Ten Billboard Dance
Theme from Dune – TOTO (Polygram)
Mixed the title theme from this David Lynch film; performed by the pop-rock band TOTO and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mannequin – "Do You Dream About Me" -ALISHA (BMG), produced and mixed this Dianne Warren song for the main dance sequence in this blockbuster film.
Knights of the City (New World) – Musical Supervisor and soundtrack producer for this feature-length film. Soundtrack included artists such as Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder.
Gotcha – JOAN JETT (Sony). Mixed the title theme for this feature-length film. Co-mixed with song producers Jimmy Iovine (Interscope Records – CEO) and Kenny Laguna.
= Executive producer discography =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
|+ |
| scope=col | Artist
! scope=col | Credit ! scope=col | Title ! scope=col | Label |
|---|
| Mr.Spike
|Executive Producer |Beer Can Alley |ATTACK |
| The Clockhouse
|Executive Producer |Every Android That I Know |ATTACK |
| Adam & Eve (Feature Film) Soundtrack
|Executive Producer |Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |ATTACK/Lions Gate |
| Echoface
|Executive Producer |Echoface |ATTACK |
= External links =
{{LinkedIn page|id=marksberry1}}
- [https://www.theamgcorp.com/ AMG Official website]