Asko Kallonen

A Finnish musician and record producer. Born 1960. In 1982 he joined Päät and 2 years later he founded Keba (2) with Ali Alikoski. In 1993 he started as the production manager of BMG Finland Oy. In January 2005 he founded HMC - Helsinki Music Company Oy with Niko Nordström and Pekka "Pequ" Nieminen. He had 50 % ownership in it and he was the chairman of the board, besides he was responsible for signing the artists. Kallonen became the production manager of Warner Music Finland after HMC was sold and merged to it in autumn 2007. He also worked at YLE Radiomafia. He was a judge (and the chairman of jury) in the 1st (2003-04) and 3rd (2007) seasons of Finnish Idols. At the Music & Media Finland event Kallonen has won ''the A&R person of the year'' award for 7 times. Since 2014 he is also a member of the Musiikki & Media Hall of Fame.