Hopeless Records

United States • Van NuysFounded 1993

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, and acquired Fat Wreck Chords in 2025. The label operates the Sub City imprint for charity-focused releases and has a strategic partnership with Fat Wreck Chords following the 2025 acquisition.

Contact & HQ

Headquarters

Van Nuys, CA, USA

Ownership & Distribution

Label Type

Independent Label Group

Parent Company

Independently owned

Distribution

Independent distribution network

Additional Details

Genres

PunkPop-PunkAlternativeEmoPost-Hardcore

Signing Process

Hopeless runs its own A&R. Unsolicited demos are not accepted. The label signs punk, pop-punk, and alternative acts through A&R scouting and referrals. Following the 2025 Fat Wreck Chords acquisition, Hopeless operates a strategic partnership with Fat Wreck. Its 2026 signings include Wargasm.

Demo Policy

No unsolicited demos. Submit through representation or build a strong touring and streaming profile first.

Notable Artists

All Time Low
The Used
Waterparks
Wargasm
Yellowcard (catalog)
Taking Back Sunday (catalog)

Sub-Labels / Imprints

Sub CityFat Wreck Chords (acquired 2025)

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.