Claim: Soundgarden signed to an American record label.

Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt . In 1988 , Sub Pop Records LLC was formed by Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle , Washington . Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana , Soundgarden , Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle alternative rock scene . They are often credited with taking the first steps toward popularizing grunge music , and have continued to achieve critical and commercial success in the new millennium , with bands such as Fleet Foxes , Foals , Beach House , The Postal Service , Flight of the Conchords , Sleater-Kinney , Blitzen Trapper , Father John Misty , Shabazz Palaces and The Shins on their roster . In 1995 the owners of Sub Pop sold a 49 % stake of the label to the Warner Music Group .