Rockin' the Kremlin

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" and Library Journal calls an "absorbing illustration of the mutuality of music and politics." When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Russia opened its borders, and Russian audiences were hungry for Western popular music and the values it espoused. David Junk was one of the first idealistic, young Americans to seize this opportunity. Rockin' the Kremlin is the thrilling true story of how David became the first CEO of Universal Music Russia and built impactful cultural bridges with music-but also how that would all shatter with the rise of Vladimir Putin and invasions of Ukraine. There was no proper music industry in the USSR, and creating a modern music industry in Russia would be far more challenging than anyone had anticipated. David assembled a team of young and talented Russians, and they navigated a terrain filled with political chaos, organized crime, powerful oligarchs, bombings, and violence-with cultural clashes tinting many aspects. They captivated millions by bringing superstar acts to Russia for the first time ever, including Metallica, Mariah Carey, Sting, Eminem, and Enrique Iglesias, while developing local talent such as Alsou and t.A.T.u.-Russia's greatest selling pop act of all time. Eventually, David would even build a music industry in Ukraine and other countries in Eastern Europe. While Russia's descent into authoritarianism and two invasions of Ukraine have tarnished this, the industry that David shepherded has birthed a newer generation of Russian musicians who are speaking out against the war and Putin. Filled with unique insights as well as gripping-and sometimes humorous-stories, this book reveals how it all happened.

David Junk

Introduction SECTION ONE: MY STRANGE PATH TO RUSSIA Chapter 1: Cold War Kid Chapter 2: Tear Down This Wall Chapter 3: Diamonds Are Forever.Or Are They? SECTION TWO: MY MUSIC CAREER BEGINS Chapter 4: Ketchup Or Music? Chapter 5: Breaking News SECTION THREE: POP STARS AND OLIGARCHS Chapter 6: The Oligarch's Daughter Chapter 7: It's In The Bag Chapter 8: Enrique In The Kremlin Chapter 9: Did We Have Fun At The After-Party? SECTION FOUR: THE MOST DANGEROUS BAND Chapter 10: The Kiss Heard 'Round The World Chapter 11: Fifty-Fifty Chapter 12: Broadcast Standards Chapter 13: "Get Them Out Of Monaco!" Interlude: Building The Russian Music Industry SECTION FIVE: THE BUILDING PROJECT Chapter 14: Pirate Battle Chapter 15: I Want My MTV (On Red Square) Chapter 16: Mariah Makes It Happen In Moscow SECTION SIX: THE GOLDEN YEARS Chapter 17: The Russian Wham! Chapter 18: Smashed!! Chapter 19: Meeting The Maestro Chapter 20: At The Ballet/Jazzman Chapter 21: 54 And Above Chapter 22: Comebacks Chapter 23: Peak Performance in Eastern Europe SECTION SEVEN: DARK DAYS Chapter 24: Band Troubles Chapter 25: Not Guilty Chapter 26: The Underworld Chapter 27: On Dangerous Ground SECTION 8: UKRAINE AND RUSSIA Chapter 28: An American In Ukraine Chapter 29: An American Chance In Ukraine Chapter 30: An Unexpected Return Chapter 31: Putting It Together Chapter 32: Sochi Chapter 33: Crimea Chapter 34: A Brave Rock Star Epilogue Acknowledgments