Hopeless Records

Operational Structure

Hopeless Records operates three integrated divisions: master recording label operations, Hopeless Publishing for copyright administration, and Sub City Records as the charitable nonprofit arm. The label maintains 100% independence while leveraging Merlin Network membership for collective licensing power with streaming platforms. Leadership includes founder Louis Posen as President, Al Person as CFO, and Josh Epple as VP of Streaming and Promotion. The charitable arm allocates 5% of label profits to nonprofit organizations, generating over $3 million for 150+ causes since inception. Operations expanded significantly through the July 2025 acquisition of Fat Wreck Chords’ catalog and back operations, with Hopeless waiving $3.5 million in unrecouped artist balances—a strategic move combining catalog expansion with artist debt relief. The transaction included continued use of the Fat Wreck Chords brand for festivals and retail while Hopeless assumed catalog management and agreed to focus on existing roster rather than new signings under that imprint.

Distribution Infrastructure

Global distribution operates through Merlin Network, providing collective licensing agreements with Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and emerging platforms including Twitch, Mixcloud, and Boomplay across African markets. Regional partnerships extend reach through PIAS handling UK and Ireland distribution, Artist First managing Australian territories, and IC Music and Apparel GmbH operating European retail through dedicated regional storefronts. The label maintains verified presence across major streaming platforms with official label pages, curated playlists, and direct artist channels. Physical distribution capabilities include vinyl pressing and retail partnerships through independent record stores and online retailers. Merlin membership grants access to direct licensing deals with regional services across South Korea (FLO), Latin America, and Asia, providing catalog monetization beyond major Western markets. Platform presence extends to Bandcamp for direct-to-fan sales, SoundCloud for promotional streaming, and YouTube for music video distribution.

Catalog and Commercial Performance

The catalog spans 400+ album releases generating substantial streaming presence across platforms. Stand Atlantic achieved #3 peak on ARIA charts with “Was Here,” marking the Australian act’s first top-five charting album. Neck Deep maintains significant streaming presence with “Wish You Were Here” exceeding 278 million Spotify plays. Historical catalog includes Gold and Platinum certifications from All Time Low, Avenged Sevenfold, Yellowcard, and Taking Back Sunday during their Hopeless tenure. Scene Queen pioneered “bimbocore” subgenre with debut album “Hot Singles in Your Area,” expanding label reach into emerging metalcore fusion genres. The catalog demonstrates genre diversity from pop-punk foundations through metalcore, synth-pop, and indie rock, with active releases maintaining consistent streaming growth. Legacy catalog continues generating royalties from departed artists including All Time Low’s “So Wrong, It’s Right” and Avenged Sevenfold’s early releases. The Wonder Years represents longest active artist relationship with five studio albums plus Aaron West solo projects across 14 years. Stand Atlantic’s “Was Here (Deluxe)” extended commercial lifecycle through strategic reissue with additional tracks.

Artist Development Track Record

The Wonder Years exemplifies development from underground pop-punk act to arena-level performer, with Dan Campbell completing five studio albums, three Aaron West solo projects, and numerous EPs across 14 years of active partnership. All Time Low developed from 2006 signing through 11 years resulting in multiple Gold certifications before amicable departure to major-label partnership. Avenged Sevenfold emerged from metalcore underground to mainstream metal success during early Hopeless tenure before graduating to Warner Bros. Stand Atlantic progressed from Australian underground to international pop-punk prominence with three studio albums culminating in chart success. Taking Back Sunday and Yellowcard both achieved Gold and Platinum certifications during their respective Hopeless partnerships. Scene Queen built TikTok following into full album cycle with dedicated marketing support for metalcore/feminist hybrid genre. Neck Deep sustained multi-album partnership producing consistent streaming success across five releases. The label provides A&R guidance, marketing coordination, touring support facilitation, and music video production access. Development timelines typically span 2-5 album cycles before artists either renew contracts or depart for major-label opportunities or independent operations.

Artist Experience

Multiple artists describe genuine development support alongside documented promotional gaps. The Dangerous Summer departed after 13 years citing restrictive contract terms:

“Artists receive very little from actual music, if any. When we were on Hopeless, we also signed away our rights to sell our own merch online.”

They explained label contracts limited earning potential primarily to touring revenue, prompting independence. Between You and Me publicly criticized promotional support for their 2021 album, describing feeling “unsigned” despite label partnership, with minimal social media promotion and absent playlist pitching efforts. One Reddit discussion detailed allegations that The Dangerous Summer experienced payment transparency issues, with claims the label concealed accurate sales data while generating substantial monthly revenue from artist catalogs. Conversely, The Wonder Years maintains 14-year partnership with Dan Campbell publicly crediting Hopeless for supporting “every step of the way.” Fat Mike from NOFX stated: “Hopeless has a very good reputation for treating bands well… I’ve never heard anybody say anything bad about Hopeless.” Customer service for merchandise purchasers receives positive testimonials, with defective vinyl replacements processed without negotiation. All Time Low departed after 11 years describing the relationship as “totally amicable,” indicating variable experiences correlate with contract terms, promotional expectations, and revenue splits negotiated individually rather than standardized artist treatment patterns.

Payment and Royalty Infrastructure

Payment processing modernization occurred through September 2024 partnership with Trolley payment platform. CFO Al Person described reducing royalty payout processing from “two weeks cutting checks” to “about a day of work,” indicating substantial operational improvement. Historical payment concerns surface in artist testimonials describing delays and accounting opacity. The Dangerous Summer specifically cited payment disputes as contributing factor to their departure, with allegations that proper payment for catalog usage remained unresolved during their 13-year partnership. The Fat Wreck Chords acquisition included waiving $3.5 million in unrecouped artist balances, demonstrating willingness to prioritize artist relief over recoupment enforcement. This decision contrasts with typical industry practice of maintaining debt obligations during catalog acquisitions. Multiple artists departed post-contract completion rather than renewal, suggesting payment terms and recoupment structures factor significantly in artist retention decisions. The Trolley integration addresses mechanical processing efficiency but does not resolve underlying concerns about royalty rate transparency, recoupment calculation visibility, or advance structure fairness raised in multiple testimonials. Payment modernization represents operational improvement rather than contract term reformation.

Contract Structure and Rights

Artist testimonials reveal 360 deal structures extending beyond master recordings into merchandising and ancillary revenue. The Dangerous Summer specifically described restrictions preventing independent online merchandise sales, limiting direct-to-fan commerce to touring contexts only. This structure captures merchandising revenue streams beyond traditional recording royalties. Multiple artists departed for independence or major-label partnerships after contract completion, including All Time Low, Waterparks, and The Dangerous Summer, suggesting contract terms became restrictive relative to artist leverage at career inflection points. Waterparks departed after approximately two years for 300 Entertainment before subsequently moving to Fueled by Ramen, indicating rapid label succession among developing artists. Between You and Me’s promotional complaints coincided with their 2021-2022 activity period, suggesting correlation between perceived commercial potential and promotional investment allocation. The label operates charitable nonprofit alongside for-profit operations, creating hybrid mission structure balancing commercial catalog management with social impact objectives. Contract structures appear negotiated individually rather than standardized, with established acts like The Wonder Years maintaining decade-plus partnerships while emerging acts experience shorter tenures before departure or termination.