Editing DreamWorks Records (section)

== History ==
In October 1994, four years after [[David Geffen]] sold his former record label [[Geffen Records]] to [[Universal Music Group|MCA Music Entertainment]], he joined [[Steven Spielberg]] and [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] to form DreamWorks SKG.<ref>Tom King, ''The Operator: David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New Hollywood'', p. 538, Broadway Books (New York 2001).</ref> '''SKG''' stood for '''S'''pielberg, '''K'''atzenberg & '''G'''effen.<ref name = nytimes>{{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 }}</ref> The three partners, mainly Geffen along with [[Mo Ostin]], his son [[Michael Ostin|Michael]], and [[Lenny Waronker]], later launched the subsidiary record label DreamWorks Records in early 1996.<ref name = nytimes/> [[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 (band)|Eels]], and the second release from the record company.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The record label's first release, [[George Michael]]'s [[Older (George Michael album)|''Older'']] album, had featured [[DreamWorks Pictures]]' logo of a boy fishing and sitting on a moon crescent.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

[[Henry Rollins]] (both as a spoken-word artist and with [[Rollins Band]]), [[Tamar Braxton]], [[Nelly Furtado]], [[George Michael]], [[Randy Newman]], [[Morphine (band)|Morphine]], [[Elliott Smith]], [[Eels (band)|Eels]], comedian/actor [[Chris Rock]], [[Powerman 5000]], [[Papa Roach]] and others were also signed to the label.<ref name = latimes>{{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}}</ref> 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."<ref name="aug01">{{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}}</ref>

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".<ref name="billboard1">{{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}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3262215.stm |title=Business &#124; Universal buys Dreamworks Records |work=BBC News |date=2003-11-11 |access-date=2013-09-15}}</ref> Under the new deal, DreamWorks Records was placed within the [[Interscope Geffen A&M Records|Interscope Geffen A&M]] label, under the direction of [[Jimmy Iovine]].<ref name="billboard1" /> 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]].<ref name=":0">{{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 (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |volume=116 |issue=4 |pages=5. 65 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref> Notably, the label's A&R staff were kept on to the label.<ref name=":0" /> [[Polly Anthony]] joined Jordan Schur as Geffen co-head in 2004.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>