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Hopeless Records Acquires Fat Wreck Chords Catalog, Preserves Punk Legacy

7/10/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Hopeless Records has made a bold move by acquiring the iconic catalog of Fat Wreck Chords, a label co-founded by Fat Mike and Erin Kelly-Burkett. This transformative deal erases $3.5 million in unrecouped artist balances while maintaining a no-new-signings policy. Fat Mike and Kelly-Burkett keep ownership of the label's name and trademark, preserving its punk legacy for future generations.

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Story summary

Hopeless Records has made a bold move by acquiring the iconic catalog of Fat Wreck Chords, a label co-founded by Fat Mike and Erin Kelly-Burkett. This transformative deal erases $3.5 million in unrecouped artist balances while maintaining a no-new-signings policy. Fat Mike and Kelly-Burkett keep ownership of the label's name and trademark, preserving its punk legacy for future generations.