Hopeless Records is an American independent punk and alternative label founded in 1993 by Louis Posen in Van Nuys, California. It is home to All Time Low, The Used, Waterparks, and Wargasm (signed in 2026). Its catalog includes Yellowcard and Taking Back Sunday. In 2025, Hopeless Records acquired Fat Wreck Chords, forming a strategic partnership that brought the historic San Francisco punk label into the Hopeless structure. Hopeless operates the Sub City imprint for charity-focused releases.
Hopeless built its reputation on 2000s pop-punk and emo. Its signings of All Time Low, The Used, and Yellowcard made it a dominant force in the 2000s pop-punk boom. The modern roster has expanded into alternative and electronic-influenced punk with Waterparks and Wargasm (the duo of Milkie Way and Sam Matlock, who signed to Hopeless in 2026 and released the single "Get Down"). The 2025 Fat Wreck Chords acquisition expanded Hopeless's reach into historic skate punk catalog.
How Hopeless Operates
Hopeless runs dedicated A&R for punk, pop-punk, alternative, and emo from its Van Nuys headquarters. Following the 2025 Fat Wreck Chords acquisition, the label operates a strategic partnership with Fat Wreck, combining the two rosters under the Hopeless umbrella. Hopeless operates the Sub City imprint for charity-focused releases, donating a portion of proceeds to nonprofit organizations. Its strength is its pop-punk and alternative roster and its historic skate punk catalog (via Fat Wreck).
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
If you make pop-punk, alternative, emo, or punk, Hopeless Records is one of the most established independent labels in those genres. Its 2025 Fat Wreck Chords acquisition expanded its roster and catalog significantly. Its track record of breaking pop-punk acts (All Time Low, The Used) shows it can develop artists in the streaming era while maintaining punk credibility.
Drawbacks and Things to Consider
- Genre focus: Hopeless signs punk, pop-punk, and alternative. Artists outside those genres should look elsewhere.
- No unsolicited demos: Hopeless does not accept cold submissions.
- Fat Wreck integration: The 2025 acquisition is still being integrated. How the two labels operate together long-term remains to be seen.
- Touring expectations: Hopeless's model favors bands with strong touring followings.
Notable Artists and Releases
| Artist | Release | Year | Billboard 200 Peak | First-Week Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Time Low | Future Hearts (album) | 2015 | No. 2 | 80,000 (75,000 pure sales) |
| All Time Low | Nothing Personal (album) | 2009 | No. 4 | 63,000 |
| All Time Low | "Dear Maria, Count Me In" (single) | 2008 | Pop-punk anthem | N/A |
| Taking Back Sunday | Louder Now (album, catalog) | 2006 | No. 2 | 157,000 |
| Taking Back Sunday | "MakeDamnSure" (single, catalog) | 2006 | Top 20 Hot 100 | N/A |
| The Used | The Used (album, self-titled) | 2002 | No. 63 | RIAA Platinum |
| The Used | "The Taste of Ink" (single) | 2002 | No. 19 Alternative Songs | N/A |
| The Used | In Love and Death (album) | 2004 | No. 6 | N/A |
| All Time Low | Last Young Renegade (album) | 2017 | No. 9 | 44,000 |
| Wargasm | "Get Down" (single) | 2026 | New signing | N/A |
Video Highlights
Deal Structures
Hopeless Records is an independently owned label group with distribution through an independent network. Its deal types include:
- Traditional independent recording deals: Hopeless offers standard recording contracts where the label owns the masters. Advances, recording budgets, and marketing are label-funded. This is the primary deal type for new signings.
- Catalog acquisition deals: Hopeless has acquired catalogs from other labels. The 2025 Fat Wreck Chords acquisition brought the historic San Francisco punk label's catalog into the Hopeless structure. Taking Back Sunday's catalog and Yellowcard's catalog are also managed by Hopeless through acquisition or licensing deals.
- Sub City charity deals: The Sub City imprint operates charity-focused releases where a portion of proceeds goes to nonprofit organizations. Artists on Sub City releases agree to donate a percentage of sales to designated causes. This is a unique deal structure in the independent label space.
- Strategic partnership deals: The 2025 Fat Wreck Chords acquisition created a strategic partnership rather than a full absorption. Fat Wreck operates with some autonomy under the Hopeless umbrella, maintaining its brand identity while sharing distribution and back-office infrastructure.
- No distribution-only deals: Hopeless does not offer standalone distribution services to outside artists. All releases go through the label's independent distribution network.
- Touring-focused deal terms: Because pop-punk and alternative bands rely heavily on touring revenue, Hopeless deal structures often include tour support and merchandise provisions. Bands with strong live followings receive more favorable terms.
How Artists Get Signed
- A&R scouting for punk and pop-punk: Hopeless runs dedicated A&R focused on punk, pop-punk, alternative, and emo. A&R reps monitor the scene through touring circuits (Vans Warped Tour alumni circuit), streaming platforms, and genre-specific media.
- Touring and streaming traction: Hopeless signs bands that have built a touring following and streaming presence. All Time Low was signed after building a fanbase through MySpace and relentless touring. The Used were signed after building a following through their live shows in Utah.
- Manager and agent referrals: Music industry professionals (managers, booking agents, producers) refer bands to Hopeless A&R. The punk and pop-punk community is tightly connected, and personal recommendations carry significant weight.
- No unsolicited demos: Hopeless does not accept cold submissions. Artists need representation or must build enough traction to attract A&R attention through touring and streaming.
- Fat Wreck Chords pipeline: Following the 2025 acquisition, Fat Wreck Chords operates as part of the Hopeless umbrella. Artists signed to Fat Wreck now have access to Hopeless's broader infrastructure, creating a two-channel signing pipeline.
- Sub City pathway: The Sub City imprint provides an alternative entry point for artists whose work aligns with charitable causes. Sub City releases are curated based on both musical quality and the artist's commitment to social impact.
Similar Labels
- Fearless Records - Comparable punk and rock independent label
- Pure Noise Records - Punk and emo label with similar roster
- Epitaph Records - Punk and alternative label with long history
- Fueled By Ramen - Pop-punk and alternative label
- Fat Wreck Chords - Hopeless's 2025 acquisition, skate punk
- Rise Records - Rock and metalcore label
- Equal Vision Records - Post-hardcore and emo label
Related Resources
- Record Label Contracts Explained - What a Hopeless deal contains
- Independent Labels vs Major Labels - The indie punk model
- Tour Revenue Calculator - Touring income for punk bands
- Fat Wreck Chords - Hopeless's 2025 acquisition
- Hopeless Records Official Site - Roster and releases
