Read the true story of Universal Music Russia’s first CEO and his quest to bring Western popular music to post-Soviet Russia in an account that Publishers Weekly calls “an exciting and colorful look at a dynamic period in Russia’s cultural history.”
Rockin’
The Kremlin
Step into the pulsating heart of post-Soviet Russia, where East meets West in a cultural revolution unlike any other. In “Rockin the Kremlin,” dive into the captivating true story of Universal Music Russia’s inaugural CEO as he embarks on a daring mission to introduce Western popular music to a nation awakening from decades of isolation. Against a backdrop of political upheaval and societal transformation, this account, hailed by Publishers Weekly as “an exciting and colorful look at a dynamic period in Russia’s cultural history,” unveils the gripping journey of a visionary navigating the complexities of an emerging market hungry for new sounds and sensations. Join us on a mesmerizing odyssey through the corridors of power, the bustling streets of Moscow, and the vibrant tapestry of Russia’s cultural landscape. Prepare to be transported to a world where music transcends borders and ignites the spirit of a nation. “Rockin the Kremlin” is more than a story—it’s a symphony of ambition, resilience, and the power of music to bridge divides and inspire change. Are you ready to embark on this unforgettable adventure?
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About The Author
What’s inside
For three decades, Ohio native David Junk has been a trailblazer in the mu- sic industry, leaving an indelible mark through his diverse experiences and unwavering commitment to promoting cultural understanding. Born with a passion for music and a keen sense of entrepreneurship, David’s journey has taken him from the heart of the Russian music industry to the epicenter of cultural preservation in Ukraine.
David’s foray into the music industry began after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union when he answered a “Help Wanted” advertisement in the Moscow Times, leading him to join PolyGram, the first multinational record company to establish a presence in Russia. Initially hired as an English-speaking accountant, David’s passion for music and business acumen quickly propelled him to more prominent roles. As PolyGram merged with Universal Music Group, David, the first American to work in the Russian music industry, became the inaugural chief executive of Universal Music Russia, overseeing the promotion of international artists, including Elton John, U2, Andrea Bocelli, Bon Jovi, Eminem, Jay-Z, and Shania Twain, introducing hip hop and country to the Russian audience.
"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
"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
"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...
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- Neil Turkewitz, artist rights advocate and former executive vice president, of the International, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
"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, of the International, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
“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,...
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- Zach Horowitz, former president & chief operating officer, of Universal Music Group
“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, of Universal Music Group
"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
"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
“A funny, fascinating, and frightening angle on Russia’s trajectory from decadence to dictatorship.”
- Peter Pomerantsev, journalist and author, This Is Not Propaganda; senior fellow, SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University
“A funny, fascinating, and frightening angle on Russia’s trajectory from decadence to dictatorship.”
- Peter Pomerantsev, journalist and author, This Is Not Propaganda; senior fellow, SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University
"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 industry's commander-in-chief against the Russian underworld, their corrupt military, and Putin's appalling security forces. Yet, he still managed to give Russia its first-ever ...
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- Simon Napier-Bell, author, filmmaker, and music manager, Wham!, The Yardbirds, Sinead O'Connor
"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 industry's commander-in-chief against the Russian underworld, their corrupt military, and Putin's 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, filmmaker, and music manager, Wham!, The Yardbirds, Sinead O'Connor
“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...
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- Ruslana, renowned Ukrainian singer and activist; winner of the Eurovision Song Contest and World Music Awards
“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
"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,...
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- Mark Galeotti, historian and author, of A Short History of Russia and We Need to Talk about Putin
"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—they’re all here."
- Mark Galeotti, historian and author, of A Short History of Russia and We Need to Talk about Putin
"Music 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...
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- Publishers Weekly
"Music 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 Church’s 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!! (Russia’s boy band answer to Wham!)... It’s an exciting and colorful look at a dynamic period in Russia’s cultural history."
- Publishers Weekly
Rockin The Kremlin
Book Is COMING JULY 2024
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