What REALLY Happened When David Junk Became Universal Music Russia's First CEO
David Junk(Rockin the Kremlin)
1:02:45•214 views
What was it like to build a record company in post-Soviet Russia—where pop ambitions collided with piracy, oligarchs and organised crime?
David Junk, Universal Music Russia’s first CEO, and music journalist Fred Bronson join Steve Blame to discuss their book Rockin’ the Kremlin: My Incredible True Story of Gangsters, Oligarchs, and Pop Stars in Putin’s Russia.
David recounts his extraordinary route from an Ohio farm to Moscow, via a diamond-company scandal and a job at PolyGram. He describes developing Alsou, signing t.A.T.u., and pursuing international success while navigating the dangers and contradictions of Russia’s emerging music business.
Together, David and Fred revisit Eurovision, Simon Napier-Bell, Trevor Horn, t.A.T.u.’s controversial American television appearances, and the relationship between musical talent and provocation.
David also shares his account of fighting counterfeit recordings, joining police raids, and why he eventually moved his family out of Russia. A conversation about music, power and the promise—and disappointment—of the post-Cold War years.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
01:56 Introducing David Junk, Fred Bronson and the book
02:50 Growing up with Cold War fears
04:47 Roger Waters’ Berlin concert changes everything
07:51 Finding a new direction in Eastern Europe
09:06 Fred Bronson: Eurovision and meeting David
13:04 From a diamond company to the music industry
16:42 Joining PolyGram in Moscow
18:04 Hazard pay and kidnapping insurance
20:45 Working in Russia’s “Wild Wild East”
23:08 Music piracy, organised crime and diplomacy
26:32 Why Eurovision matters
29:23 Discovering Alsou and pursuing international success
34:41 Eurovision 2000 and Simon Napier-Bell
38:06 Alsou’s American breakthrough that didn’t happen
41:17 Discovering and signing t.A.T.u.
44:50 Talent, controversy and provocation
47:38 Trevor Horn and t.A.T.u.’s American TV appearances
50:40 Changing television standards
51:52 Building an industry organisation and fighting piracy
55:33 The stories—and names—left out of the book
58:37 Terrorism and the decision to leave Russia
1:01:49 Closing reflections
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