On Dec. 4th, 2013, Hopeless Records - the home to bands such as All Time Low, Taking Back Sunday, The Wonder Years, The Used, We Are The In Crowd and many more - will celebrate its 20 year anniversary as an independent record label.
Label founder and president Louis Posen remarks:
"There is a proverb that says, 'If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.' We recognize these past 20 years have everything to do with the fortune and opportunity to work with amazing fans, co-workers, artists, managers, agents, distributors, retailers, media outlets, individuals and organizations. There aren't words to describe the level of gratitude and appreciation we feel for all those who have supported Hopeless Records and Sub City these first 20 years. We hope we have given to you as much as you have given to us."
Founded in 1993, Hopeless Records has had much to celebrate in its 20 years. In two decades, the label has been transformed from small beginnings as the punk-centric hobby of Posen into one of the largest independent record labels in the world according to market share, while releasing music spread across a valley of genres.
Hopeless first gained recognition in the 1990's with releases from 88 Fingers Louie, Dillinger Four, Atom and His Package, Mustard Plug, The Weakerthans, Samiam, The Queers, Fifteen, the Cinema Beer video compilation series, the Hopelessly Devoted compilation series and more.
The second decade of the label's history kicked off with the first two releases from multi-platinum artist Avenged Sevenfold and genre-defining legends Thrice. In 2005 Hopeless Records scored its first gold record with Avenged Sevenfold's "Waking The Fallen" and its first gold single in 2011 with All Time Low's "Dear Maria, Count Me In."
Recently, Hopeless has developed the careers of young bands like The Wonder Years, We Are The In Crowd, Air Dubai, Neck Deep and many others. The label has released albums from established acts like Yellowcard, The Used, Silverstein, Enter Shikari and All Time Low. Meanwhile, Hopeless continues to attract established artists such as Taking Back Sunday and Bayside.
The label's 501(c)(3) charity arm Sub City was established in 1999. It has raised over 2 million dollars for over 50 non-profit organizations by connecting bands and fans to causes they are passionate about. Sub City has been recognized for its efforts by the 110th U.S. Congress, the California Senate, the Los Angeles City Council, the National Association of Retail Merchandisers (NARM), Billboard magazine, Alternative Press Magazine, the Los Angeles Times and many other publications.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Hopeless Records will be holding a private event at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, CA on Dec. 14th, 2013.
The event will also help raise awareness for Sub City's first benefiting charity, the Foundation Fighting Blindness - a charity founded in 1971 that is dedicated to funding research to find preventions, treatments and cures for inherited retinal degenerative diseases that lead to blindness and affect more than 10 million people in the United States.
Limited edition, commemorative 20th anniversary merchandise (including t-shirts and snapbacks) will be available soon via the Hopeless Records web store and at the event. Proceeds from these purchases will be donated to the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
