DreamWorks Records
{{Short description|American record label}}
{{Infobox record label
| name = DreamWorks Records
| image = DreamWorks Records logo.svg
| parent = Interscope Geffen A&M
{{small|(Universal Music Group)}}
| founded = {{start date and age|1996}}
| defunct = {{end date and age|2005|01|09}}
| founder = {{hlist|David Geffen|Mo Ostin|Michael Ostin|Lenny Waronker}}
| distributor = {{hlist|US: Geffen Records|International: BMG Music (before 1999)|Polydor (starting in 1999)}}
| genre = Various
| country = United States
| location = {{hlist|Universal City, California (1996–1999)|Beverly Hills, California (1999–2006)}}
| url =
}}
DreamWorks Records (often referred in copyright notices as SKG Music, LLC) was an American record label founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Mo Ostin, his son Michael Ostin and Lenny Waronker as a subsidiary of DreamWorks Pictures.{{cite web | url = https://www.deseret.com/2003/11/12/19795199/universal-music-to-buy-dreamworks-records | publisher = Deseret News | title = Universal Music to buy DreamWorks Records| date = 12 November 2003 | access-date = 5 March 2021}} The label operated until January 9, 2005, when it was sold to Universal Music Group.{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3262215.stm | publisher = BBC | title=Universal buys Dreamworks Records | date = 11 November 2003 | access-date = 5 March 2021}} The label itself also featured a Nashville, Tennessee-based subsidiary, DreamWorks Nashville, which specialized in country music and was shut down in 2005 then moved to MCA Nashville. The company's logo was designed by Roy Lichtenstein and was his last commission before his death in 1997.{{cite web | url = https://www.thoughtco.com/biography-of-roy-lichtenstein-pioneer-of-pop-art-4165701 | publisher = Thought Co | title = The Life and Work of Roy Lichtenstein, Pop Art Pioneer| access-date = 5 March 2021}} DreamWorks Pictures's DreamWorks Records catalogue is managed by Music Corporation of America, while its DreamWorks Nashville catalogue is managed by MCA Nashville.
History
In October 1994, four years after David Geffen sold his former record label Geffen Records to MCA Music Entertainment, he joined Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg to form DreamWorks SKG.Tom King, The Operator: David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New Hollywood, p. 538, Broadway Books (New York 2001). SKG stood for Spielberg, Katzenberg & Geffen.{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/27/business/media/27dream.html | newspaper = New York Times | title = David Geffen Makes a Sudden Exit| date = 27 October 2008 | access-date = 5 March 2021| last1 = Cieply | first1 = Michael }} The three partners, mainly Geffen along with Mo Ostin, his son Michael, and Lenny Waronker, later launched the subsidiary record label DreamWorks Records in early 1996. Rufus Wainwright was the first artist to be signed to the new record label, in early 1996.
The logo for the label was the last project completed by artist Roy Lichtenstein. The distinctive design, incorporating a musical note in the artist's trademark "dream balloon," debuted on the packaging for Beautiful Freak, the first album from Los Angeles-based band Eels, and the second release from the record company.{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18598870.html |title=Artist Roy Lichtenstein Designs Logo For DreamWorks Records |access-date=2011-09-02}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The record label's first release, George Michael's Older album, had featured DreamWorks Pictures' logo of a boy fishing and sitting on a moon crescent.{{Cite web|title=George Michael - Older|url=https://www.discogs.com/George-Michael-Older/release/4403641|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Discogs|language=en}}
Henry Rollins (both as a spoken-word artist and with Rollins Band), Tamar Braxton, Nelly Furtado, George Michael, Randy Newman, Morphine, Elliott Smith, Eels, comedian/actor Chris Rock, Powerman 5000, Papa Roach and others were also signed to the label.{{cite news | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-30-fi-29541-story.html | newspaper = LA Times | title = DreamWorks Counter-Sues Imago: Grammy-winning singer Henry Rollins...| date = 30 July 1996 | access-date = 5 March 2021}} The label was presided over by Lenny Waronker and Mo Ostin – who ran Warner Bros. Records until the mid-1990s – and Michael Ostin, who served as the president of DreamWorks. Ostin stated at the time: "What you find in the record business is there is more and more a trend toward corporate control, corporate values, and here you’re dealing with a creatively oriented operation."{{cite web | url = https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=274756&title+DREAMWORKS-IS-FOR-REAL | publisher = Hits Daily Double | title = Dreamworks Is for Real | access-date = 5 March 2021}}
Geffen Records distributed DreamWorks Records until 1999, when Interscope Records took over distribution duties (meanwhile, as Interscope and Geffen switched international distribution to Polydor Records, DreamWorks Records followed suit). It was announced on November 11, 2003, that Universal Music Group (the former MCA Music Entertainment, and parent of Interscope, Geffen, and Polydor) reached an agreement to acquire DreamWorks Records from DreamWorks for "about $100 million".{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/68395/umg-to-acquire-dreamworks-records |title=UMG To Acquire DreamWorks Records |publisher=Billboard |date=2013-08-17 |access-date=2013-09-15}} The purchase came at a time when the music business was "going through major changes" as it struggled to "counter falling sales and the impact of unofficial online music sales". Mo Ostin, the principal executive at DreamWorks Records, said: "Despite the challenges of the music business today, Universal is acquiring a wonderful asset and the sale will assure the strongest possible future for our artists".{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3262215.stm |title=Business | Universal buys Dreamworks Records |work=BBC News |date=2003-11-11 |access-date=2013-09-15}} Under the new deal, DreamWorks Records was placed within the Interscope Geffen A&M label, under the direction of Jimmy Iovine. After the finalisation of the label's sale to UMG on January 9, 2005, 100 employees were laid off at DreamWorks, multiple bands were dropped, and several albums were cancelled as it was folded into Geffen Records.{{Cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Melinda |date=January 24, 2004 |title=DreamWorks Keeps A&R Staff |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gQ8EAAAAMBAJ&dq=dreamworks+records+january+24+2004&pg=PA5 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |volume=116 |issue=4 |pages=5. 65 |issn=0006-2510}} Notably, the label's A&R staff were kept on to the label. Polly Anthony joined Jordan Schur as Geffen co-head in 2004.{{Cite web |date=2013-01-26 |title=Jordan Schur, in Partnership with Interscope Records, launches Suretone Records |url=https://www.universalmusic.com/corporate/detail/334 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126045652/http://www.universalmusic.com/corporate/detail/334 |archive-date=2013-01-26 |access-date=2018-03-29}}
Its country music division, DreamWorks Nashville, which began in June 1997, remained operational until September 1, 2005, when it was shut down by Universal Music Group Nashville following the departure of the label's biggest star, Toby Keith.{{Cite magazine |author=Billboard Staff |date=2005-09-01 |title=Universal Shuts Down DreamWorks Nashville |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/universal-shuts-down-dreamworks-nashville-1407034/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}
DreamWorks Nashville
Between 1997 and 2005, DreamWorks also operated a division in Nashville, Tennessee for country music acts. Among the artists signed to the DreamWorks Nashville division were Jessica Andrews, Emerson Drive, Toby Keith, Mike Walker, Randy Travis, Jimmy Wayne, and Darryl Worley.{{cite web | url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/1407034/universal-shuts-down-dreamworks-nashville | publisher = Billboard | title = Universal Shuts Down DreamWorks Nashville| access-date = 5 March 2021}} After DreamWorks Records' dissolution, former executive Scott Borchetta formed Big Machine Records in late 2005, signing several country music acts to the label.{{cite web | url = https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/6811852/nascar-big-machine-records-owner-scott-borchetta-living-racing-dream | publisher = ESPN | title = Big Machine and racing go together| date = 28 July 2011 | access-date = 5 March 2021}} Borchetta also signed Show Dog Records in partnership with Toby Keith,[https://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4555537-1.html All Business:Nashville Scene: Keith's New Show Dog] By PHYLLIS STARK, September 10, 2005 although Keith dropped his association with the latter label in 2005. Meanwhile, Borchetta signed Taylor Swift to Big Machine Records.{{cite web | url = https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/07/taylor-swift-scooter-braun-oddly-nasty-fight-over-recording-rights/593113/ | publisher = The Atlantic | title = The Shocking Falling-Out Between Taylor Swift and a Longtime Ally| date = 2 July 2019 | access-date = 5 March 2021}} The latter label merged with Universal South Records to become Show Dog-Universal Music.{{cite web | url = https://www.umgnashville.com/news/universal-music-group-nashville-and-show-dog-nashville-announce-restructure-of-existing-joint-venture/ | publisher = UMG | title = UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP NASHVILLE AND SHOW DOG NASHVILLE ANNOUNCE RESTRUCTURE OF EXISTING JOINT VENTURE| access-date = 5 March 2021}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110708201205/http://www.crazedhits.com/interview-lenny-waronker/ Video Interview with Lenny Waronker, former President of DreamWorks Records]}}
{{DreamWorks Animation}}
{{Universal Music Group}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Record labels based in California
Category:Defunct record labels of the United States
Category:American country music record labels
Category:Soundtrack record labels
Category:Record labels established in 1996
Category:1996 establishments in California
Category:Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles
Category:Labels distributed by Universal Music Group
Category:Record labels disestablished in 2006