Fearless Records

Fearless Records is an American independent rock label founded in 1994 by Bob Becker in Culver City, California. Now part of Concord, Fearless is home to RIAA-certified Gold artists Pierce the Veil and I Prevail, two-time GRAMMY-nominated metal act August Burns Red, Ice Nine Kills, The Pretty Reckless, Plain White T's, BOYS LIKE GIRLS, and many more. The label is distributed by Universal Music Group, with Craft Recordings handling reissues. Fearless also created the popular "Punk Goes" compilation series, which has sold over 1 million albums and 6 million singles and has featured acts like All Time Low, A Day to Remember, Rise Against, The All-American Rejects, Thrice, and Taking Back Sunday.

Fearless built its reputation on the 1990s and 2000s punk rock and post-hardcore scene. Its early signings (At the Drive-In, Bigwig, The Aquabats, Sugarcult) established the label as a launching pad for respected punk rock acts. The label achieved breakout success with Plain White T's, whose worldwide hit "Hey There Delilah" has been RIAA-certified six times Platinum. Fearless also helped electro-rock act Breathe Carolina build from a developing band to Platinum status with their Top 40 single "Blackout." The modern roster includes Pierce the Veil, I Prevail, August Burns Red, Ice Nine Kills, The Pretty Reckless, and BOYS LIKE GIRLS, representing a continued commitment to rock, metal, and post-hardcore.

How Fearless Operates

Fearless runs dedicated A&R within Concord from its Culver City headquarters. It is distributed by Universal Music Group, giving it major-distribution reach while operating within Concord's independent label group. The label's strength is its long history of breaking rock and punk acts and its "Punk Goes" compilation series, which has introduced generations of rock fans to new acts. Its 2026 roster includes both legacy acts (Plain White T's, BOYS LIKE GIRLS) and newer signings (chokecherry, Taylor Acorn, Minute After Midnight).

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you make post-hardcore, pop-punk, metalcore, or alternative rock, Fearless Records is one of the most established independent rock labels, with a 30-year track record of breaking acts from developing bands to Platinum status. Its Concord ownership and UMG distribution give it major-label reach while preserving its rock specialist identity. The "Punk Goes" series provides additional exposure opportunities.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• Master ownership: Fearless (via Concord and UMG) owns your masters under a standard deal.
• Rock focus: Fearless signs rock, punk, and metal. Artists outside those genres should look elsewhere.
• No unsolicited demos: Fearless does not accept cold submissions.
• Concord integration: Fearless is part of Concord, which affects deal structures.

Related Resources

• Record Label Contracts Explained - What a Fearless deal contains
• Independent Labels vs Major Labels - The Concord label group model
• Tour Revenue Calculator - Touring income for rock bands
• Pure Noise Records - A related punk and emo label
• Fearless Records Official Site - Roster and releases