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"Over the last three decades, Hopeless Records founder Louis Posen has turned a bedroom label into one of the most successful companies in independent music. Although the Van Nuys, California-based label has been home to an incredibly diverse roster of artists like Avenged Sevenfold, All Time Low, Sum 41, and the Wonder Years, Posen always seeks the same quality in new music. “It should speak to you, it should make the hair on the back of your neck stand up,” he says. “It’s about going to a show and feeling something special and wanting to be part of that. It’s about the community.” As these music communities evolved, Posen welcomed change with open arms. Posen has been tirelessly working to give back to that community, not just through ethical business practices but by his commitment to community service and charity work. Sub City, Hopeless was founded in 1993 when Posen, a 22-year-old aspiring music video director, used $1,000 to release a seven-inch by the band Guttermouth. The label is now an indie institution that touts well over 400 releases, with several Billboard top ten albums and Gold and Platinum records under its belt. Posen currently serves on the board of several prominent industry organizations, including Merlin and A2IM, and has previously been a board member for the Music Business Association and the Worldwide Independent Network. Posen has also been named one of Billboard Magazine's Indie Power Players five years in a row. Posen, who is blind, has had his inspirational story told in numerous publications including Businessweek, the Los Angeles Times, Alternative Press, and Billboard. Posen remains relentlessly hands-on in the daily operations of Hopeless Records. As a 30-year veteran of the music industry, he is committed to paying his knowledge forward and mentoring the Hopeless team as well as the next entrepreneurial punk looking to start a band, a record label, or charity organization. “This community has given me this amazing life,” he says, “so I’ve got a responsibility to take what I’ve learned and help the next generation.”
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Louis on what qualities Hopeless Records seeks in artists.:
"We're always looking for artists who have a story, a message, have a vision for themselves and are trying to make an impact in culture. Our music is not song-based, even though there are great songs. It's really about culture, lifestyle, and connecting with fans on an emotional level and being part of a larger community that allows people to come in who may have been either rejected from the mainstream or they don't feel comfortable with the mainstream. And this is a place that they could feel safe and belong and be themselves."
-Louis Posen
LISTEN:
LISTEN: Music Industry Business Manager REVEALS
How Much Do Musicians REALLY Make on Tour [MIP142]
TRANSCRIPT | SHOW NOTES
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