Posen founded Hopeless Records in 1993 in
Van Nuys in the
San Fernando Valley region of
Los Angeles after filming a music video with the punk rock band
Guttermouth.[15] He used $1,000 in savings and a self-help book on starting a record label to begin the business, which later signed bands such as
The Wonder Years,
Yellowcard,
Avenged Sevenfold,
Thrice,
The Used,
Taking Back Sunday, and
All Time Low. In 1999 Posen started
Sub City Records, which has raised over $2.5 million for non-profit organizations, including groups that support blindness research, mental health, and suicide prevention. As part of his quest to create awareness for suicide prevention, Posen founded the
Take Action Tour. Both Hopeless Records and Sub City Records give at least 5% of their profits to charity. [16][17][9][11][12][7]
Personal life
In 1994, a botched operation on his eye left Posen
legally blind. He is married with one child.[18]
^Desales, Ryan (September 17, 2007). "Indie record label makes major contributions: "Hopeless" donates nearly 10 percent of gross revenues to charities giving hope to youth". San Fernando Valley Business Journal.
^Knopper, Steve (June 16, 2018). "Indie Ventures Mark Major Milestones". Billboard Magazine. New York.
^Perham, Scott (March 28, 2005). "A&R Profile: Louis Posen". Music Connection. Vol. 29, no. 7. p. 12.