DreamWorks Pictures

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Lore & Background

The source does not cover DreamWorks Pictures' live-action division, animation studio, or any film franchises. It focuses exclusively on DreamWorks Records, the record label founded as a subsidiary of DreamWorks Pictures. The label's first release was George Michael's Older album, which featured the moon logo of a boy fishing sitting on a moon crescent. The label's distinctive logo incorporating a musical note in a dream balloon was designed by Roy Lichtenstein and was his last commission before his death on September 29, 1997. The label signed notable acts including Henry Rollins, Alien Ant Farm, Elliott Smith, Jimmy Eat World, Nelly Furtado, Papa Roach, and The All-American Rejects.

In Their Own Story

The source does not provide a narrative about a studio lot or fictional characters. It details the history of DreamWorks Records: Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright was the first artist signed in early 1996. George Michael joined after a legal dispute with Sony Music Entertainment. The label released soundtrack compilations for DreamWorks films including Almost Famous, American Beauty, Shrek, and The Prince of Egypt, as well as for non-DreamWorks films like Dead Man on Campus and A Night at the Roxbury. The label also released WWF Tough Enough: Music From the Hit Series on September 18, 2001.

Reader's Guide

The source does not describe animated franchises or live-action epics. It covers DreamWorks Records' operations: the label was presided over by Lenny Waronker and Mo Ostin, with Michael Ostin serving as president. Mo Ostin stated: '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.' The label released 12 albums by the time the first DreamWorks Pictures film The Peacemaker was released on September 26, 1997. The label's Nashville subsidiary, DreamWorks Nashville, specialized in country music and was shut down in 2005 then moved to MCA Nashville.

Did You Know?

• The label's logo was designed by Roy Lichtenstein and was his last commission before his death on September 29, 1997.
• Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright was the first artist signed to DreamWorks Records in early 1996.
• The label released a soundtrack specifically for the indie comic book Witchblade on September 8, 1998, unrelated to any film or TV show.
• Jonathan Larson died in 1996 and was never officially signed to the label, but DreamWorks released cast recordings of his musical Rent.
• The label's first release, George Michael's Older album, featured the moon logo of a boy fishing sitting on a moon crescent, which was later turned into a CGI opening logo for DreamWorks Pictures.