Louis Posen (born 1971) is an American record producer, record label executive, and philanthropist based in Los Angeles, California. He is the founder and president of Hopeless Records and Sub City Records, and has been referred to as the "Paul Newman of punk rock" for his charitable initiatives.
Early Life and Education
Posen was born in 1971 in Los Angeles, California. At age 15, he developed a passion for punk rock after attending a concert by the band X at the Reseda Country Club. He enrolled at California State University, Northridge as a film studies major with aspirations of becoming a filmmaker. At age 19, he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition, which led him to shift his focus toward a career in music.
Career
In 1993, Posen founded Hopeless Records in Van Nuys, California, using $1,000 in savings and a self-help book on starting a record label. The label was launched after he filmed a music video for the punk band Guttermouth and released their seven-inch single. Over the following decades, Hopeless Records grew from a bedroom operation into a significant independent label, signing artists including Avenged Sevenfold, All Time Low, Sum 41, The Wonder Years, Yellowcard, Thrice, The Used, and Taking Back Sunday.
In 1999, Posen founded Sub City Records, a nonprofit label that has raised over $2.5 million for charitable organizations supporting blindness research, mental health, and suicide prevention. He also created the Take Action Tour to raise awareness for suicide prevention. Both Hopeless Records and Sub City Records donate at least 5% of their profits to charity.
Personal Life
In 1994, a botched eye operation left Posen legally blind. He is married and has one child. He serves as a trustee for the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Recognition
In 2024, Posen received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the A2IM Libera Awards in recognition of his contributions to independent music and philanthropy.
