Alternative Tentacles Competitors

About Hopeless Records and Fat Wreck Chords Founded in 1993 as an excuse to release a Guttermouth seven-inch, Hopeless Records has been a defining force in alternative music for more than three decades. In that time, the Van Nuys, California-based indie label has guided the careers of influential acts ranging from platinum and gold-selling bands like All Time Low, Avenged Sevenfold, and Neck Deep, to Thrice, Taking Back Sunday, Yellowcard, Sum 41, and New Found Glory. Today, Hopeless’ roster features an array of the hottest emerging acts like Michael Clifford, Sweet Pill, Melrose Avenue, Arankai, Scene Queen, NOAHFINNCE, and TX2, and aims to reflect the increasing diversity of the alternative genre - women make up 50% of the roster, and more than 40% of Hopeless’ artists identify as LGBTQ+. In 2025, Hopeless Records announced a partnership and acquisition with San Francisco-based punk label, Fat Wreck Chords. Founded in 1990 by NOFX’s Fat Mike and Erin Burkett, Fat helped define '90s punk through releases from NOFX, No Use For A Name, Lagwagon, Propagandhi, and Good Riddance. Fat Wreck Chords represents one of the largest and most iconic punk catalogs in history. Through it all, Hopeless has stayed true to Founder and President Louis Posen’s mission to make a positive impact through music. The Hopeless Foundation has donated over three million dollars to more than 150 charities, connecting artists and fans with impactful causes and cementing Hopeless as a leading name in both music and philanthropy. In 2024, the Hopeless Foundation helped to establish the Hopeless Music Academy, a free music education and mentorship program created to uplift young creatives from underserved communities through hands-on training, studio access, and guidance from industry professionals.

Epitaph Records is an independent music label founded in Los Angeles by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. Early releases from a variety of punk heavyweights spawned what became known as the 90s punk explosion. Along the way Epitaph proudly launched its sister label ANTI-, representing unique and distinguished acts. From the beginning Epitaph’s mission has been to serve the musicians on its diverse and creative roster - an artist-first model, radical twenty years ago, and much imitated today.

Founded by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in 1988, Sub Pop Records is a medium-sized independent record label based in Seattle, WA. Sub Pop Records employs somewhere between 45 and 50 people, most of whom work in our World Headquarters in Seattle. It is our intent to market and sell the recorded music (and related merchandise) of artists whose music some shifting definition of “we” really and truly love. We mean to represent these artists as faithfully and diligently as possible and hold out hope that this is enough for us to remain solvent in the face of the well-documented collapse of the music industry at large. We also enjoy laughter, good times and the company of friends.