{"product_id":"rockin-the-kremlin-my-incredible-true-story-of-gangsters-oligarchs-and-pop-stars-in-putins-russia-9781538178751","title":"Rockin' the Kremlin: My Incredible True Story of Gangsters, Oligarchs, and Pop Stars in Putin's Russia","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRead 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 \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e calls \"an exciting and colorful look at a dynamic period in Russia's cultural history\" and \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e calls an \"absorbing illustration of the mutuality of music and politics.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eRockin' the Kremlin \u003c\/i\u003eis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDavid Junk\u003c\/b\u003e 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFred Bronson\u003c\/b\u003e is the bestselling author of six books including \u003ci\u003eThe Jacksons: Legacy, The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eDick Clark's American Bandstand, \u003c\/i\u003eand three \u003ci\u003eBillboard\u003c\/i\u003e charts books. For over three decades, he has been reporting on the music industry for \u003ci\u003eBillboard\u003c\/i\u003e magazine, covering many topics including \u003ci\u003eAmerican Idol, \u003c\/i\u003e the \u003ci\u003eEurovision Song Contest, \u003c\/i\u003eABBA, and Motown\u003ci\u003e.\u003c\/i\u003e His articles have also appeared in \u003ci\u003eThe Hollywood Reporter\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eVariety, \u003c\/i\u003e and the \u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times\u003c\/i\u003e. He is a four-time guest on \u003ci\u003eAmerican Idol \u003c\/i\u003eand a writer of three \u003ci\u003eStar Trek \u003c\/i\u003eepisodes. Fredbronson.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Rowman \u0026 Littlefield Publishers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50619079622930,"sku":"9781538178751","price":33.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_9453ae89-bc5d-40c9-b108-3ae803bbdad7.jpg?v=1732545158","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/rockin-the-kremlin-my-incredible-true-story-of-gangsters-oligarchs-and-pop-stars-in-putins-russia-9781538178751","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}