Dave Sirulnick

Dave Sirulnick grew up and graduated from high school in Teaneck, New Jersey, and became involved with booking then-little-known musicians such as LL Cool J, Run DMC, and Salt-N-Pepa at the nearby Bergenfield, New Jersey, roller rink before attending Rutgers University. After the university, he was hired as a news producer at CNN through his father's connections. Sirulnick was eventually involved with Nirvana and joined MTV that, he claims, "wanted someone to grow their news department. It's what I wanted my whole life: TV, music and news."

He eventually became the executive vice president for Multiplatform Production, News and Music at MTV. Sirulnick's responsibilities included oversight of MTV's signature show, Total Request Live. Half of MTV's programming had been within his job functions. In fact, he was the chief architect of the MTV Video Music Awards. However, in March 2015, he and others were dismissed from their positions at MTV by Viacom, the parent corporation. Sirulnick had been employed by MTV for 28 years, having joined in 1987.

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