Rockin' the Kremlin: My Incredible True Story of Gangsters, Oligarchs, and Pop S

Description: Rockin' the Kremlin by David Junk, Fred Bronson "Rockin the Kremlin is the wild true story of the first CEO of Universal Music Russia and his quest to bring Western popular music to post-Soviet Russia. With many twists--from political chaos and gang violence to the launch of Russians most successful pop act of all time--it shows how an American built cultural bridges with long-lasting impacts"-- FORMAT Hardcover CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Rockin the Kremlin is the wild true story of the first CEO of Universal Music Russia and his quest to bring Western popular music to post-Soviet Russia. With many twists—from political chaos and gang violence to the launch of Russians most successful pop act of all time—it shows how an American built cultural bridges with long-lasting impacts. Author Biography David Junk was the first CEO of Universal Music in Moscow, and for a decade he promoted international artists in Russia, including stars like Mariah Carey, Elton John, U2, Sting, and Bon Jovi. He also signed many Russian artists to Universal, including t.A.T.u and Alsou. He was vice-president Eastern Europe at Universal Music in 2003, opened the first Universal Music office in Kyiv, Ukraine, and developed music reality shows for Ukrainian TV. He is a founding member of the Russian Music Industry Association and the US Ambassadors Task Force on Intellectual Property Rights. Fred Bronson is the bestselling author of six books including The Jacksons: Legacy, The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook, Dick Clarks American Bandstand, and three Billboard charts books. For over three decades, he has been reporting on the music industry for Billboard magazine, covering many topics including American Idol, the Eurovision Song Contest, ABBA, and Motown. His articles have also appeared in The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and the Los Angeles Times. He is a four-time guest on American Idol and a writer of three Star Trek episodes. Fredbronson.com. Review "Russia during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the wild 90s that followed was anarchic, violent, corrupt, and exciting, as this gonzo page-turner of an account makes clear--just as it illustrates the return of order first and then authoritarianism. Gangsters, rockers, entrepreneurs, idealists, Putin, Sting, and a mortar full of vodka--theyre all here."--Mark Galeotti, PhD, historian and author, A Short History of Russia, We Need to Talk about Putin, and The Vory: Russias Super MafiaMusic industry executive and cultural ambassador David Junk, and veteran music journalist Fred Bronson, have combined their talents to write a fast-moving, information-rich narrative about the intersections between politics and pop culture behind the Iron Curtain.... Rockin the Kremlin is timely and up-to-date with valuable information about the war in Ukraine, terrorism, Chechnya, Russian-style repression, and the underground resistance to a kleptocracy where kleptocracts steal from the people.-- "New York Journal of Books"Whats the link between an American record label executive and the war in Ukraine? In this book, Junk, the former head of Universal Music Russia, ponders that question as he returns from a visit to Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion. This intriguing memoir, written with the help of journalist Bronson, details a peculiarly capitalistic adventure in Russia following the fall of the USSR, from the heady early days of American corporations exploring a veritable gold rush of new markets through the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Some readers may view Junks lens as somewhat narrow, yet its wider than one might think due to his having to deal with both the Russian government and the criminal underworld just to do business. Junks successes include mitigating music piracy in Russia, the international breakout of pop stars t.A.T.u, and helping to establish a distinctly Ukrainian music industry. How much difference these made will be for history to decide. An absorbing illustration of the mutuality of music and politics. For musicians, business people in the music industry, and readers interested in the intersection of politics and art.-- "Library Journal"Junk, former CEO of Universal Music in Moscow, collaborated with music journalist Bronson to create a fascinating, nicely paced memoir charting the rise and, sadly, eventual fall, of Junks fortunes in Russians music industry as he attempted to open the doors to international music acts (Elton John, Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi) and open world markets for Russian acts following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Junks journey from idealistic, young American rock n roller to hard-tested music industry vet is peppered with encounters with myriad shady characters. When Junk began working in Russia in the early 1990s, he writes, the country was as "chaotic, corrupt, and dangerous [as] Chicago was in the 1930s." Still, Junk scores a number of notable successes, introducing hip hop to Russia, convincing rising Russian pop star Alsou to go to the Eurovison Song Contest, and nurturing t.A.T.u, an act that attained international fame and became the biggest-selling Russian artists of their time. Putin, his increasingly authoritarian rule, and Russias ongoing war against Ukraine cast a shadow, yet Junks accomplishments inspired hopes of what might be again in some future, freer Russia.-- "Booklist""I led an American pop music invasion... to Russia. It was too loud and brash, like rock n roll--these words from David Junk impressed and inspired me. He tries to find meaning behind the cause to which he devoted over three decades of his life--bringing America and Russia closer together after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Visiting my homeland, Ukraine, David questions if dedicating these thirty years was in vain. His story is captivating."--Ruslana, renowned Ukrainian singer and activist; winner of the Eurovision Song Contest and World Music Awards"A revealing and engaging account by an American farm boy who became the most powerful music executive in Russia and led a cultural revolution, with behind-the-scenes stories of how he brought Western pop culture to the country and orchestrated hits by legendary artists like Mariah Carey, Eminem, Shania Twain, and U2."--Zach Horowitz, former president & chief operating officer, Universal Music GroupMusic industry veteran Junk debuts with an energetic chronicle of his crusade to bring popular Western music to post-Soviet Russia. Inspired by the end of the Cold War, the author moved to Moscow in the early 1990s aiming to topple the old Soviet music industry in favor of one befitting the new Russia. At Polygram Records and then Universal Music Russia (where he eventually became CEO), Junk dealt with gangster capitalism; rampant music piracy; powerful oligarchs; and the Russian Orthodox Churchs antagonism toward pro-LGBTQ musical acts, most notably the Russian girl group t.A.T.u. Along the way, he scoured the radio, music competitions, and MTV Russia to discover top-selling talent including Alsou and Smash!! (Russias boy band answer to Wham!).... Its an exciting and colorful look at a dynamic period in Russias cultural history. -- "Publishers Weekly""A compulsive, shocking story. David Junk thought he was being made head of Universal Music in Russia, but in fact, he was being appointed the American music industrys commander-in-chief against the Russian underworld, their corrupt military, and Putins appalling security forces. Yet, he still managed to give Russia its first ever international supergroup. David Junk is a man in a million."--Simon Napier-Bell, author, film maker, and music manager, Wham!, The Yardbirds, Sinead OConnor"A funny, fascinating, and frightening angle on Russias trajectory from decadence to dictatorship."--Peter Pomerantsev, journalist and author, This Is Not Propaganda; senior fellow, SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University"David Junk chronicles his experiences in the exciting--if dangerous--Russia directly after the fall of the Berlin Wall. We were fueled by hope and belief that we were paving the way to a better society, and I am extremely grateful that David has put pen to paper. David invites readers into this world in this captivatingly told story."--Neil Turkewitz, artist rights advocate and former executive vice president, International, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)"Holy perestroika! David Junk brings alive music and business in Russia with intrigue, insight, and humor. He barely pauses for breath, and the result is both compelling and satisfying."--Adam White, former editor-in-chief, Billboard; author, Motown: The Sound of Young America"This book is fun, full of action, and perfectly captures the madness of the times as well as the ugly side of Russian show business, populated with scary thugs, dodgy characters, and impatient billionaires. Highly recommend. It reads like a thriller, but it all really happened."--Emmanuel Legrand, former global editor, Billboard; editor, Creative Industries Newsletter Details ISBN1538178753 Author Fred Bronson Year 2024 ISBN-13 9781538178751 Format Hardcover Audience General Country of Publication United States Publisher Rowman & Littlefield Place of Publication Lanham, MD AU Release Date 2024-07-01 DEWEY B Subtitle My Incredible True Story of Gangsters, Oligarchs, and Pop Stars in Putins Russia Imprint Rowman & Littlefield ISBN-10 1538178753 UK Release Date 2024-07-02 Pages 294 Publication Date 2024-07-02 US Release Date 2024-07-02 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:161587751;

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