Industry Insiders: Sujit Kundu, DJ Promoter Extraordinaire

A promotional prodigy, Sujit Kundu has channeled his love of the game into startling early success as a DJ talent manager, promoter, and recording executive. His laundry list of clients and associates reads like a who's who of turntable talent, not to mention an artistically profitable relationship with sudden superstar Lil Wayne. Unsurprisingly, his ambition isn't quite satisfied.

Point of Origin: "I was born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Fullerton, CA. During high school, at the age of 16, I started promoting clubs and raves as well producing concerts in Southern California. After high school, I attended and eventually graduated from UCSB, where my primary focus on academics quickly changed as I began to see the business opportunities in the marketplace. At 19, I became the GM of Sticks restaurant and nightclub (Santa Barbara’s #1 club) and started my own mix show and street promotion company. After college, the mix-show promotions escalated into independent/retainer radio promotions. At the same time, myself and Damian Young, along with Emmis Communications, created Baby Ree Productions, a joint venture production company, which produced tracks for the likes of Mariah Carey, Ja Rule, Nate Dogg, Warren G, and Shade Sheist, among others."

“When the joint venture dissolved, I started a DJ management company, S.K.A.M. Artist (Sujit Kundu Artist Management), responsible for the talent and music at some of the highest-profile events around the US. Around the same time, I was hired by the regional promotions department of MCA/Geffen. During the MCA/Geffen merger, I was let go and went on to tour and road-manage artists including Frankie J, Baby Bash, Nate Dogg, Warren G, and TQ. I was then hired by Universal Records to work national crossover radio promotions. Nine months later, I was promoted to VP of crossover radio promotions and am currently VP of promotions for Universal Motown.”

Occupations: “I’m a businessman. People often wonder how I handle such a busy work schedule and such a heavy workload ... it’s as simple as the classic line I reference in response: ‘If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.’ Money isn’t the primary motive for me, or my company. I will often spend my own money to develop the brand or to develop an idea I have, even if its not dollar-for-dollar the smartest move. I like to get things done on time and in a professional way. I hate making mistakes, and I hate when people make the same mistake twice even more.”

Case History: “While promoting clubs and events, I was among the first promoters to bring Mobb Deep to the West Coast to perform. I also put together the first performance for Mack 10. When it comes to the raves I produced in Hollywood, I was able to attract over 4,000 attendees to a single event through my promotions. As the owner of S.K.A.M. Artist, I feel we are leading the way as the premier open-format DJ booking agency in the country, representing the likes of DJ Vice, Sky Nellor, DJ Irie, Eric Cubeechee, DJ Homicide, D-Nice, Mr. Mauricio, Roctakon, Ross One, and Ob One, among many others. As the vice president of promotions for Universal Motown, some milestones include helping to break new artist Chamillionaire, helping to propel Akon to the #1 and #2 singles position on the crossover chart with “Smack That” and “I Wanna Love You,” then maintaining those positions by having those same singles trade positions. Currently, at Motown, Lil Wayne has the #1 single in the country on the crossover chart for the past 11 weeks with “Lollipop,” and he just sold over 1 million records within the first week of the album’s release. Lil Wayne also currently has three singles in the Crossover Top 10 Chart.

Current Biz: “I spend about 80% of my time in NYC and the other 20% in LA, both places where I work and like to play. To relax, I like to stay at home and watch TV. You can usually find me hanging out wherever my DJs are spinning, if I am in the same city as one of them that night, or wherever the Universal job takes me. When in LA, I like to hang out at Coco de Ville, Hyde, Villa, or I may even go hang out at the Highlands or Minx. I’m down for whatever in NYC; I like to go to Marquee, Pink Elephant, 1Oak ... but, like I said, it’s usually wherever DJs that S.K.A.M. represents are hanging out at.”

Known Associates: “On the label side of my life, Gary Marella and Sylvia Rhone are good friends. During the work day, all other labels are my competition, but at 7 p.m. when the days is over, it’s all good, and we can go get a drink and hang out. On the S.K.A.M. side, all the DJs I represent, I consider family and friends. I am close to Noah and Jason and the rest of Strategic Marketing Group, Dave Grutman and the Miami Marketing Group, Dave G and Michael Fuller at the Palms, Andy Hersh and Tony Wang at the Hard Rock Hotel, everyone at Bolthouse/SBE ... There are really too many to list. I am, after all, ‘the people’s Indian!’”

Projections: “I ultimately see myself running a label one day. Think that is further down the road than one year, though. I also see S.K.A.M. Artist going global along with taking DJing, in general, to the next level and making S.K.A.M. Artist a household name. Basically doing what I am doing now, but on a much larger scale. Tonight, I’m off to Seattle representing Universal Motown, where I will be with Lil Wayne for a show he has out there.”

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