Kierszenbaum grew up studying piano. He lived in South America, UK and Continental Europe before eventually moving to New Haven, Connecticut. He then moved to Michigan.[2]
He graduated from University of Michigan with a B.A. in music theory, Spanish Literature, and Communication. He then went on to the Annenberg School of University of Southern California to complete his master's degree in communications management.[3]
Career
Kierszenbaum co-founded independent record label Arb Recordings, which released the hip-hop duo Maroon, which he also co-founded under the moniker Mk Chilly Dog. The band existed 1985–1994.[4]
Kierszenbaum then got a job at the PolyGram Music Group mailroom. During 1989-1991 he worked as an international publicity manager at Warner Bros Records.[2] Later, he worked as publicist in the international division of A&M Records and by 1998 he was working for its new owner Interscope Records (Universal's unit) as the head of international marketing. Kierszenbaum was promoted to head of international operations and was responsible for discovering and signing non-American artists. His idea to promote t.A.T.u's single "All the Things She Said", whose lyrics he wrote, in Japan through karaoke bars led to 1.7 mil copies sold in the country.[5][6][7] He promoted Eminem and Limp Bizkit on the European market.
In 2005, he founded the music management, record label and publishing firm Cherrytree Music Company.[7]
He featured on a remix of Far East Movement's "Like a G6" with Colette Carr called "G6 (V6 Reflip)". He also features on backing vocals on “Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)” by Lady Gaga and "Not In Love", a track from Natalia Kills's debut album, Perfectionist.[citation needed] Kierszenbaum is also a co-writer on Halsey's "Nightmare" (2019).
Kierszenbaum produced Sting's "57th & 9th" album, several songs on the GRAMMY-award-winning "44/876" album by Sting & Shaggy, Mylène Farmer's platinum "Interstellaires" album and the Samantha Fish album “Faster.” He also co-produced Sting's “The Bridge” album with Sting.
Kierszenbaum produced and co-wrote many of the songs on the 2021 Samantha Fish album Faster.[11]
Kierszenbaum is also a member in the rock group DETROIT DREAMERS.