Meet Shar Bates of Ideation Junkies in East Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shar Bates.

Shar, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I came to Atlanta as an Artist/Songwriter. After I got settled, I quickly noticed the mistreatment of artists, particularly women and I decided to do something about it. That’s when I started some of the first showcases in Atlanta to feature A&R’s and Record Execs instead of just industry pupil and other artists.

That spawned into promo, which led me to go back to school years later for Radio & TV Broadcast. After starting my radio show (Shar Bates Show) and taking that show from 7 listeners to tens of thousands of listeners every week, my notoriety began to grow.

I loved talking about taboo things that many shunned mainstream media from talking about but was also the topic of conversation at work, at leisure and every day interactions. We talked about relationships, family, finances, and most importantly: Police Brutality in the African American communities.

Around this time the Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown situations were happening and people continuously stated how no one was really talking about it on urban radio and tv.

As I did more research, I noticed how common these cases were, but people were under the impression that they didn’t exist because of the way mainstream media criminalized the victims. That was when my activism began.

Simultaneously, I have a 501(c)3 nonprofit: Breaking the Chains since 2011 and our community events were getting bigger and bigger. We coined the term “Edu-Tainment” when teachers started to rave about our seminars, workshops, mentoring and youth summits were raising attendance, knowledge, and engagement.

I had found a way to leverage the two. At that point, we started mentoring entire schools. Some of the schools were places that most programs won’t touch because the schools were “Alternative.” But once we raised the attendance by 30%, I think we all had to take a step back and just be thankful for the impact. We literally changed mindsets.

Around the same time, just as I interviewed a family member of Nick Thomas (victim of a police killing by Marietta Police). That interview went viral among Atlanta Millennials and led to a series of interviews with larger outlets. After being asked to do live artists interviews at a popular artist showcase, my notoriety shot through the roof. Those live interviews I did with DJ Scream, Shawty Lo, Lil Donald, the family of Nick Thomas and more stamped my name in the entertainment industry as a master interviewer and changed the entertainment scene in Atlanta forever.

Since then, in 2015 you can hardly go to an entertainment event (especially for music) without seeing live interviews. That led to me noticing not only my impact but how my creativity can be used in a way to help people and have fun while doing so.

I also noticed that people really wanted more commentary on Social Justice as well as an honest point of view. So from there, I started to be a lot more strategic about who I interview and feature. As well as how to put my creative ideas into fruition to help creatives and entertainers build their brand and avoid the pitfalls of this industry.

I am now more involved than ever in Social Justice and using my platform to share people’s stories that may not have been highlighted otherwise, while simultaneously helping brands and artists build their platforms by turning their passions into profits with my Digital Marketing business: Ideation Junkies.

I’m proud to say I’ve helped many social justice stories go viral, assisted in Marches, Protests, and Town Hall meetings that have not only led to changes in mindsets but also changes in the system, legal assistance, and change.

Throughout this journey I am STILL a music head and produce quarterly events like Art of Radio, where we interview Industry Moguls that are nationwide “Record Breakers” that allow artists to get the “tea” from Music Execs on ways to navigate through this industry quicker, while spending less and avoiding the pitfalls of the industry.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. I’ve dealt with the “Me Too Movement” on another level. Everyone praises you for being independent, while others judge you for not being attached to a larger company, while others label you as “competition” that pose as friends.

Please tell us about Ideation Junkies.
Ideation Junkies is a new Digital Marketing Company that focuses on PR, Branding, Record Servicing, and Promotions for Creatives and Entertainers. We specialize in Brand Strategy as well as Customized Creative Campaigns for Music and/or products.

I’m proud of the fact that we’ve been able to help quite a few indie artists and entrepreneurs boost their business and brand them the same way you would a Fortune 500 Company because after all, they could be next.

What sets us apart is having over 15+ years of experience in the Corporate and Entertainment industries.

Breaking the Chains Worldwide has mentored over 20,000 young adults between 11-23 and helped with supplies for the Flint Water Crises, Hurricane Harvey and Puerto Rico. As a community leader and Social Justice advocate its important to pour into the youth through life skills and mentoring, youth summits, career guidance workshops, and events that empower the youth to break generational chains.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Playing outside with my friends when things were simple.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.IdeationJunkies.com
• Email: iamsharbates@gmail.com
• Instagram: @iamsharbates
• Facebook: @iamsharbates
• Twitter: @iamsharbates
• Other: www.SharBates.com

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.