In the last few months of 1999 avex put together an audition campaign to search for bright new stars in what was called "avex Dream 2000". Through the screening process and out of 12,000+ girls who were looking to become the next SPEED, only three girls were chosen, Matsumuro Mai, Hasebe Yu & Tachibana Kana. Three average looking girls with extraordinary voices who were ready to make an impact on Japan; avex's dream became dream.
It didn't take long for dream to break out, on January 1st 2000, Movin' On was released and Mai, Yu & Kana proved to everyone that they weren't to be taken lightly, and landed within the top 15 on the oricon charts. dream became a group who's vocal ranges could reach extremely high to medium and piercing, and dispite Yu taking the center ground in photos, lines in songs were distributed almost equally. Their first release wasn't to say "...here I am." it was saying "We're here, we're strong, we can do this." Their style could easily rival the best and they could sing and dance. They had staying power.
Within the first year alone dream released 6 singles and a remix album, most of which ended up on the music charts but not in low spots. Then finally the 6th single, My Will, which reached the #6 spot in the Oricon charts and sold over 105,000 copies. It had taken a year, but they were finally getting recognition. My Will was also used as an ending song for the anime series Inuyasha. Matsumuro Mai, the group's oldest member, was also lending her hand and writing some of their lyrics. The following year came their dirst album, Dear···, and five more singles and their style was becoming more diverse with dance beats, ballads, and fun songs all of which music and singing style couldn't be referred to as anything more than who they are, dream.
In the year 2002 fans became a little worried. dream released Yourself in January, Process in February then there was a four month gap before Sincerely ~ever dream~ was put out along with a startling message -- Matsumuro Mai who had written a great deal of dream's lyrics was leaving the group, she decided to pursue songwriting instead. Fans were devestated. Eternal dream was released at the end of the month as a "best of" type of album that included a second disk of remixes. All hope was lost.
However, since avex knew what they had, it wasn't long before new auditions were to take place to search for a girl who would replace Mai. & even more dismal for a lot of fans, axex not only chose one girl to replace her, they chose 6. Yamamoto Sayaka, Takamoto Aya, Ai Risa, Nishiida Shizuka, Abe Erie, and Nakashima Ami. More plain-looking girls with amazing hidden attributes. As fans anticipated their re-debut there was a lot of rumors that the group was going to turn more Hello! Project-ish. However, in 2003 Music is My Thing was released and the new additions began their dedication to convince everyone that they are dream, too.
Since that time Ai Risa moved away from the group to pursue a solo career, but the remaining seven members are going strong. They've released two albums, a cover album, two albums of remakes for older songs and singles. Along the way they have also been performing physically as TEAMdream for the idol futsal teams and Yu acts in movies and drama. I strongly feel that a lot of other people would agree that regardless of how many members there are, there is a special meaning inside of the group, something amazing that continues to attract the attention of fans, the light of dream.
It was announced mid-May of 2007 that the group's name "dream" would be renamed "DRM". Taking out the vowels, but would be pronounced "dee ahr ehm". This was to show a sort of skin shedding of their youth since all 7 members have matured so much these past years. No members have been changed out or subtracted but fans are still awaiting more changes.
