Sumerian Records 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.

Metal Blade Records history by Dan Slessor: Founded upon owner Brian Slagel's enduring drive to find great bands and get their music out to as many people as possible, since 1982 Metal Blade has brought wave after wave of powerful, innovative, and often genre-defining music to the ever-hungry metal masses. It is this ethos that has seen Metal Blade build up a stunning and diverse catalogue, weather the various storms facing any independent label, and in an age of declining record sales boast the most successful years of its existence as it strides into its fourth decade. Metallica's Lars Ulrich has nothing but admiration for everything the label has done, not only in helping launch his own band but in remaining so vital over three decades. "The fact that Brian and Metal Blade have maintained their integrity over thirty years is obviously very admirable," he enthuses. "Even today I'll call him up and ask him what bands I should be checking out, who is going to blow me away and who should we be thinking about taking on tour with us, because he knows. He's so connected with what's going on out there in a way the rest of us mere mortals can't quite compete with! I also love that not that much has changed over the years – when we get together we're still those enthusiastic metalhead outcasts who got all pumped listening to all these amazing bands. Maybe we have a little less hair, and what we do have is a little grayer, but it's the same shit it's always been, and I love that."