Jonathan Poneman

As of 2020, Poneman remains at the helm of Sub Pop Records and splits his time between Seattle, Brooklyn, and Lipce Reymontowskie, Poland.

In 2014, Poneman was the recipient of the Independent Spirit Award, presented by the Music Business Association. In 2019 he was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM).

Poneman was the first record label executive to sign Nirvana to a record contract. In 2007, Poneman started an offshoot label called Hardly Art.

In 1987, Poneman contributed $2,000 of his own money to help get Soundgarden's debut single, "Hunted Down" / "Nothing to Say" and EP, Screaming Life, released on Pavitt's fledgling Sub Pop label. On April 1, 1988, Poneman and Pavitt pooled together $19,000 which gave Poneman a 50% stake in the business, to open Sub Pop Records as a full service record label in Seattle.

At a 1985 KCMU benefit show Poneman had booked, he first saw Soundgarden perform at the Rainbow Tavern near the University of Washington and was especially impressed by the band's singer, Chris Cornell.

In 1983, Poneman began volunteering at the University of Washington's student-run radio station, KCMU, a forerunner to KEXP, and important champion of local independent music. Mark Arm of Mudhoney, photographer Charles Peterson, Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil, and Poneman's eventual business partner Bruce Pavitt also worked regular air shifts at the station.

The third child of Harold and Beverly Poneman, Jonathan Poneman was born October 9, 1959 in Toledo, Ohio and grew up in the suburb of Ottawa Hills. He got his first job, pumping gas at a local filling station at the age of 14. After being kicked out of high school in 11th grade, Poneman moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and graduated from Arcadia High School in 1977. He moved to Washington in the same year.