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DreamWorks Records

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DreamWorks Records
Parent companyInterscope Geffen A&M
(Universal Music Group)
Founded1996;28 years ago(1996)
Founder
DefunctJanuary 9, 2004;20 years ago(January 9, 2004)
Distributor(s)
GenreVarious
Country of originUnited States
Location

DreamWorks Records(often referred in copyright notices asSKG Music, LLC) was an Americanrecord labelfounded in 1996 byDavid Geffen,Mo Ostin,his son Michael Ostin andLenny Waronkeras a subsidiary ofDreamWorks Pictures.[1]The label operated until 2003 when it was sold toUniversal Music Group.[2]The label itself also featured aNashville, Tennessee-based subsidiary,DreamWorks Nashville,which specialized incountry musicand was shut down in 2006 then moved toMCA Nashville.The company's logo was designed byRoy Lichtensteinand was his last commission before his death in 1997.[3]

History

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In October 1994, four years afterDavid Geffensold his former record labelGeffen RecordstoMCA Music Entertainment,he joinedSteven SpielbergandJeffrey Katzenbergto form DreamWorks SKG.[4]SKGstood forSpielberg,Katzenberg &Geffen.[5]The three partners, mainly Geffen along withMo Ostin,his son Michael andLenny Waronkerlater launched the subsidiary record label DreamWorks Records in early 1996.[5]Rufus Wainwrightwas 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 artistRoy Lichtenstein.The distinctive design, incorporating a musical note in the artist's trademark "dream balloon," debuted on the packaging forBeautiful Freak,the first album from Los Angeles-based bandEels,and the second release from the record company.[6]The record label's first release,George Michael'sOlderalbum, had featuredDreamWorks Pictures' logo of a boy fishing and sitting on a moon crescent.[7]

Henry Rollins(both as a spoken-word artist and withRollins Band),Tamar Braxton,Nelly Furtado,George Michael,Randy Newman,Morphine,Elliott Smith,Eels,comedian/actorChris Rock,Powerman 5000,Papa Roachand others were also signed to the label.[8]The label was presided over byLenny WaronkerandMo Ostin,who had runWarner Bros. Recordsuntil the mid-1990s. 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."[9]

Geffen Records distributed DreamWorks Records until 1999, whenInterscope Recordstook over distribution duties (meanwhile, as Interscope and Geffen switched international distribution toPolydor Records,DreamWorks Records followed suit). It was announced on November 11, 2003, thatUniversal 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".[10]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".[11]Under the new deal, DreamWorks Records was placed within theInterscope Geffen A&Mlabel, under the direction ofJimmy Iovine.[10]After the finalisation of the label's sale to UMG on January 9, 2004, 100 employees were laid off at DreamWorks, as it was folded intoGeffen Records.[12]Notably, the label's A&R staff were kept on to the label.[12]Polly Anthony joined Jordan Schur as Geffen co-heads in 2004.[13]

Its country music division, DreamWorks Nashville, which began in June 1997, remained operational until September 1, 2005, when it was shut down byUniversal Music Group Nashvillefollowing the departure of the label's biggest star,Toby Keith.[14]

DreamWorks Nashville

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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 wereJessica Andrews,Emerson Drive,Toby Keith,Mike Walker,Randy Travis,Jimmy Wayne,andDarryl Worley.[15]After DreamWorks Records' dissolution, former executiveScott BorchettaformedBig Machine Recordsin late 2005, signing several country music acts to the label.[16]Borchetta also signed Show Dog Records in partnership with Toby Keith,[17]although Keith dropped his association with the latter label in 2005. Meanwhile, Borchetta signed Taylor Swift to Big Machine Records.[18]The latter label merged with Universal South Records to becomeShow Dog-Universal Music.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Universal Music to buy DreamWorks Records".Deseret News. 12 November 2003.Retrieved5 March2021.
  2. ^"Universal buys Dreamworks Records".BBC. 11 November 2003.Retrieved5 March2021.
  3. ^"The Life and Work of Roy Lichtenstein, Pop Art Pioneer".Thought Co.Retrieved5 March2021.
  4. ^Tom King,The Operator: David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New Hollywood,p. 538, Broadway Books (New York 2001).
  5. ^abCieply, Michael (27 October 2008)."David Geffen Makes a Sudden Exit".New York Times.Retrieved5 March2021.
  6. ^"Artist Roy Lichtenstein Designs Logo For DreamWorks Records".Retrieved2011-09-02.[dead link]
  7. ^"George Michael - Older".Discogs.Retrieved2020-12-26.
  8. ^"DreamWorks Counter-Sues Imago: Grammy-winning singer Henry Rollins..."LA Times.30 July 1996.Retrieved5 March2021.
  9. ^"Dreamworks Is for Real".Hits Daily Double.Retrieved5 March2021.
  10. ^ab"UMG To Acquire DreamWorks Records".Billboard. 2013-08-17.Retrieved2013-09-15.
  11. ^"Business | Universal buys Dreamworks Records".BBC News.2003-11-11.Retrieved2013-09-15.
  12. ^abNewman, Melinda (January 24, 2004)."DreamWorks Keeps A&R Staff".Billboard.Vol. 116, no. 4. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 5. 65.ISSN0006-2510.
  13. ^"Jordan Schur, in Partnership with Interscope Records, launches Suretone Records".2013-01-26. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-01-26.Retrieved2018-03-29.
  14. ^Billboard Staff (2005-09-01)."Universal Shuts Down DreamWorks Nashville".Billboard.Retrieved2023-04-14.
  15. ^"Universal Shuts Down DreamWorks Nashville".Billboard.Retrieved5 March2021.
  16. ^"Big Machine and racing go together".ESPN. 28 July 2011.Retrieved5 March2021.
  17. ^All Business:Nashville Scene: Keith's New Show DogBy PHYLLIS STARK, September 10, 2005
  18. ^"The Shocking Falling-Out Between Taylor Swift and a Longtime Ally".The Atlantic. 2 July 2019.Retrieved5 March2021.
  19. ^"UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP NASHVILLE AND SHOW DOG NASHVILLE ANNOUNCE RESTRUCTURE OF EXISTING JOINT VENTURE".UMG.Retrieved5 March2021.
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