Editing Lookout Records (section)

===Under new management (1998–2004)===
After Livermore's departure, Chris Appelgren took over as the label's president while his wife [[Molly Neuman]] became vice president and label employee Cathy Bauer took over as general manager. Screeching Weasel resigned with the label in 1998 for their album Emo. As part of an agreement, Lookout also purchased Ben Weasel's label Panic Button Records and would release albums from Panic Button acts including [[The Eyeliners]], [[Enemy You]] and [[The Lillingtons]]. The move would be a major financial loss that would effect the label's royalty payouts in the following years.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/kerplunk/Content?oid=1079016&storyPage=2|title = Kerplunk|date = 14 September 2005|access-date = 10 May 2020|archive-date = 17 October 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161017133922/http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/kerplunk/Content?oid=1079016&storyPage=2|url-status = live}}</ref> The label also switched its long time distribution affiliation with Mordam to RED Distribution.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/kerplunk/Content?oid=1079016&storyPage=5|title = Kerplunk|date = 14 September 2005|access-date = 10 May 2020|archive-date = 20 February 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190220105401/https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/kerplunk/Content?oid=1079016&storyPage=5|url-status = live}}</ref>

In 1998, the label signed Palo Alto-based band [[The Donnas]] and would release 3 albums from the band between 1998 and 2001 as well as reissue their debut album.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/A-punk-success-story-Lookout-Records-marks-15-2601635.php |title=A punk success story / Lookout Records marks 15 years in East Bay |newspaper=Sfgate |date=20 July 2003 |last1=Chonin |first1=Neva |access-date=10 May 2020 |archive-date=9 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309055301/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/A-punk-success-story-Lookout-Records-marks-15-2601635.php |url-status=live }}</ref> With decent sales and heavy coverage of the band from mainstream media outlets, The Donnas would depart for Atlantic Records in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.stanford.edu/2019/02/07/the-rockstar-on-campus/|title=The rockstar on campus|date=7 February 2019|access-date=12 May 2020|archive-date=12 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212175619/https://news.stanford.edu/2019/02/07/the-rockstar-on-campus/|url-status=live}}</ref> Other veteran acts such as The Queers, Pansy Division and Avail would depart in the early 2000s citing poor promotion and the label's increasing attention and spending on new acts.

By 2002, Lookout began to shift focus from its East Bay pop punk roots to a more diverse sound by releasing albums from bands such as [[Pretty Girls Make Graves]], [[Ted Leo and the Pharmacists|Ted Leo And The Pharmacists]], The Oranges Band and Neuman's own band Bratmobile. The shift in direction and new releases from veteran acts like The Smugglers and The Mr. T Experience could not offset declining album sales and financial mismanagement including unprofitable showcases at the Warped Tour and CMJ. By 2004, the label had closed its retail store on University Avenue in Berkeley.