Jonathan Poneman

Jonathan Poneman

Co-Founder


Sub Pop Records

Seattle, WA USA


At the end of the day, you're going to live and die, succeed and fail by your wits. And I think the important thing is to have the courage of your convictions and to have a sense of humor.

Videos

By Roadtrip Nation

Jonathan Poneman

Milestones

My road in life has been direct.
As a kid, he says he was not very coordinated, wasn't good at sports, but found guitar and rock and roll to be a saving grace.
Played with several bands, wanted to be a pop star; eventually, he accepted that that dream wasn't going to work out.
Says it's important to realize that, "if you fail, that's just a chapter in your story; it's not the story in and of itself."
After that, he got into radio; started to realize he also enjoyed the business side of music.
Decided he would do one successful thing in music, then he'd probably get a conventional job.
Went into business with his friend Bruce Pavitt developing Sub Pop Records.
They never imagined how huge the label would get-thought Nirvana would sell maybe 200,000 records, not ten million records.
Says if you stop thinking of happiness and passion as "options" and start thinking of them as "necessary," you'll take steps to creating a fulfilling life.
Keep following my journey

Career

Co-Founder

I find and sign local bands and release some of the finest independent music around from "Nirvana" to "The Shins."

Career Roadmap

Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Entrepreneurship
Music
Accomplishing Goals

Interviewed By

Wellpinit - Seattle

Wellpinit - Seattle

Continuing on to Wellpinit, Washington, the Roadtrip Nation team interview Bob Brisbois, Tribal Council Secretary of the Spokane Tribe. The team then heads to Seattle to interview Sylvia Matthews, executive director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Next they meet with Jonathan Poneman, founder of Nirvana's original label, Sub-pop Records. Also, the team interview Ann Powers, rock journalist and senior curator of the Experience Music Project.