Fearless Records

Lore & Background

Bob Becker started Fearless Records by selling his friends' records at their shows and placing them on consignment at record stores. The label name came from Becker not knowing what he was doing and 'not being afraid to jump in head first.' Fearless Records was officially formed in 1994.

In 2000, the label released Punk Goes Metal, the first compilation in the Punk Goes... series, which later expanded to include Punk Goes Pop, Punk Goes Acoustic, Punk Goes 80's and 90's, Punk Goes Crunk, Punk Goes Classic Rock, and Punk Goes X. In 2005, Fearless released Plain White T's album All That We Needed, whose single 'Hey There Delilah' reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a multi-platinum success.

In 2011, Breathe Carolina's album Hell Is What You Make It yielded the single 'Blackout,' which debuted at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold. In October 2012, Fearless launched a sister label called Old Friends Records for indie rock artists, and in November 2013 announced a second imprint, Outerloop Records, with first signing Ice Nine Kills.

Reader's Guide

Fearless Records played a significant role in shaping the pop punk and post-hardcore scenes from the 1990s onward. Its early compilations like the Fearless Flush Sampler and Punk Bites captured the energy of the era, while the Punk Goes... series became a long-running franchise that introduced cover songs to new audiences. The label's commercial breakthrough came with Plain White T's 'Hey There Delilah,' a No. 1 hit that demonstrated Fearless's ability to cross over into mainstream success. Later signings such as Blessthefall, Ice Nine Kills, Pierce The Veil, and Underoath kept the label relevant in heavier genres. The acquisition by Concord Bicycle Music in 2015 for an estimated $10 million marked a transition from independent to corporate ownership, but the label's back-catalog of about 150 albums and its imprint labels Old Friends Records and Outerloop Records continued its influence. Fearless Records remains a touchstone for fans of pop punk, post-hardcore, and alternative rock.

Did You Know?

• Fearless Records was founded in 1994 by Bob Becker, who named it because he 'was not afraid to jump in head first.'
• The label's Punk Goes... series began in 2000 with Punk Goes Metal and later included seven Punk Goes Pop releases.
• Plain White T's single 'Hey There Delilah' reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified multi-platinum.
• Fearless Records was acquired by Concord Bicycle Music in May 2015 for an estimated $10,000,000.