Pure Noise Records is an American independent punk, emo, and post-hardcore label founded in 2010 by Jake Round in Berkeley, California. It is home to The Story So Far, Counterparts, Movements, Four Year Strong, and Riley. The label's 2026 releases include Riley's debut EP To Live And Die In The American South (arriving July 17, 2026), recorded in Austin, TX with producer Phil Odom. The EP features guest appearances from Tades Sanville of Hot Mulligan and Gabe Wood of Saturdays at Your Place.
Pure Noise built its reputation on the 2010s pop-punk and emo revival. Its signings of The Story So Far, Counterparts, and Movements made it a dominant force in modern emo and post-hardcore. The label's model favors bands with strong touring followings and online communities, and it has been effective at breaking bands through streaming and the Warped Tour alumni network. The 2026 Riley signing shows continued investment in developing emo acts.
How Pure Noise Operates
Pure Noise runs dedicated A&R for pop-punk, emo, post-hardcore, and hardcore from its Berkeley headquarters. It operates an independent distribution network. The label's strength is its deep ties to the modern emo and pop-punk touring ecosystem. Its A&R favors bands with strong live followings and online communities, and it has a track record of developing acts across multiple album cycles (The Story So Far, Movements).
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
If you make pop-punk, emo, post-hardcore, or hardcore, Pure Noise is one of the most effective independent labels in those genres. Its track record of breaking modern emo acts (The Story So Far, Movements) shows it can develop artists in the streaming era. Its 2026 Riley signing shows continued investment in new emo talent.
Drawbacks and Things to Consider
- Genre focus: Pure Noise signs pop-punk, emo, post-hardcore, and hardcore. Artists outside those genres should look elsewhere.
- No unsolicited demos: Pure Noise does not accept cold submissions.
- Touring expectations: Pure Noise's model favors bands with strong live followings. A studio-only project is a harder sell.
- Indie deal terms: Pure Noise typically takes master ownership for the deal term.
Notable Artists and Releases
| Artist | Release | Year | Chart Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Story So Far | I Want To Disappear | 2024 | Billboard 200 #78; US Independent Albums #15; UK Rock and Metal Albums #1; UK Independent Albums #3 |
| The Story So Far | Proper Dose | 2018 | Billboard 200 #19; Billboard Top Rock Albums #1; Billboard Alternative Albums #1 |
| The Story So Far | The Story So Far | 2015 | Billboard 200 #23; Australian Albums (ARIA) #35; UK Albums #70 |
| Knocked Loose | You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To | 2024 | Billboard 200 #23; Independent Albums #1; Hard Rock Albums #1; Current Rock Albums #1; 24,000 first-week units (18,000 pure sales) |
| Knocked Loose | A Different Shade of Blue | 2019 | Billboard 200 #26; 16,000 first-week album equivalent units |
| Counterparts | Heaven Let Them Die | 2024 | Released November 7, 2024; 6-track EP on Pure Noise Records |
| Four Year Strong | analysis paralysis | 2024 | Released August 9, 2024; iTunes Album Chart #25; Apple Music Album Chart #14 |
| Less Than Jake | Uncharted | 2024 | Released November 15, 2024 on Pure Noise Records |
Videos
Deal Structures
Pure Noise Records offers what founder Jake Round calls "standard non-rip-off deals." The label structures contracts as one-record, two-record, or three-record deals depending on the artist's career stage and negotiating position. Two-album contracts are the most typical format, which Round describes as "a reasonable commitment for everyone involved."
The label does not take publishing rights from its artists, a notable distinction from many labels in the punk and hardcore space. Pure Noise typically takes master ownership for the deal term. Round has stated that deals are negotiable and can be revisited: "If we sign one deal and they're doing well and want them to hang around and be happy, we can revisit those terms and improve them if that makes sense."
The roster includes approximately 40 acts of varying sizes, and deal terms reflect that diversity. Established artists with larger fan bases receive more favorable terms than new signings. Round previously operated a joint venture label called Weekday Records with Sony Music, but that partnership is no longer active. Round described the major label JV experience as "difficult" but educational, noting that "anyone you talk to who has had a joint venture with a major label will tell you how difficult they are."
Pure Noise operates an independent distribution network from its Berkeley headquarters. The label has been independently owned and operated since its founding in 2010 (originally 2009 as a startup). Not a single artist has left the label, according to Round.
How Artists Get Signed
Pure Noise does not accept unsolicited demos. Founder Jake Round runs A&R from Berkeley, scouting punk, emo, post-hardcore, and hardcore acts through show attendance, streaming data, and referrals from the label's existing network.
Round has described the signing process as organic rather than proactive: "Looking to sign bands is sort of like looking to find a girlfriend. It's not really the way to do it." Instead, Round relies on his deep ties to the pop-punk and hardcore scene, having grown up in that community. He becomes aware of acts worth investigating through natural scene involvement rather than active searching.
The label prioritizes two factors when evaluating signings: good songs and a willingness to work hard. Round has stated he is "willing to overlook a lot of shortcomings" if those two elements are present. Touring commitment is a specific requirement: Round expects new signings to be willing to tour five to six months per year in early development, scaling to nine or 10 months per year once the band gains traction.
Artists who want to be considered should submit material through the Pure Noise website. However, the most effective path is building a strong touring profile and online community first. The label's A&R favors bands with demonstrated live followings, as the Pure Noise model is built around the touring ecosystem of modern emo, pop-punk, and hardcore. A studio-only project without live performance capability is a harder sell.
The 2026 signing of Riley, whose debut EP "To Live And Die In The American South" arrived July 17, 2026, demonstrates the label's continued investment in developing emo acts. The EP features guest appearances from Tades Sanville of Hot Mulligan and Gabe Wood of Saturdays at Your Place, showing how Pure Noise leverages its roster network for new artist development.
Similar Labels
- Epitaph Records - Punk and hardcore label founded by Brett Gurewitz with a similar independent ethos
- Fearless Records - US label specializing in pop-punk, emo, and post-hardcore with a strong roster of modern acts
- Rise Records - Oregon-based label focused on post-hardcore and metalcore
- Hopeless Records - California-based punk and emo independent label
Related Resources
- Record Label Contracts Explained - What a Pure Noise deal contains
- Independent Labels vs Major Labels - The indie punk model
- Tour Revenue Calculator - Touring income for emo and pop-punk bands
- Epitaph Records - A related punk indie label
- Pure Noise Records Official Site - Roster and releases
