Sublime are entering a new chapter, but the foundation is not changing.
The Long Beach trio have signed a partnership with Atlantic Records for the release of their upcoming full-length album, marking the first new LP featuring Jakob Nowell alongside founding members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson. Importantly, the band remains managed by Regime Music Group, the team that guided their recent independent resurgence.
Before this Atlantic deal, Sublime made a deliberate decision to release new music independently. The band dropped “Feel Like That” with Stick Figure and followed with “Ensenada,” both released via Sublime Recordings and Jakob Nowell’s SVNBVRNT in partnership with Regime. Regime handled marketing and radio promotion, effectively operating as the label entity while ensuring the band maintained ownership of their masters.
That strategy paid off. “Ensenada” spent eight consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart, making it the longest-running No. 1 alternative song of 2025 and surpassing the band’s previous benchmark set by “What I Got.”
Regime founder and Sublime manager Kevin Zinger explained the intention behind the independent rollout:
“When Sublime began releasing new music, I sat down with the band and our team at Regime and we made a very intentional decision to release the first few singles ourselves. Between our label division at Regime and Joe Escalante’s past experience owning Kung Fu Records, we had the infrastructure in place. Most importantly, we wanted the band to stay in control of their music.”
He continued:
“There was no additional financial upside for us in taking on the extra work as the label nor were we looking for one. When ‘Ensenada’ hit #1 at Alternative radio, that was more than enough reward. It was a defining moment for all of us and Sublime’s legacy.”
The Atlantic partnership, Zinger says, came only after the independent model proved itself.
“Before sitting down with anyone, we had already outlined what a partnership would need to look like. After meeting with Atlantic, we all walked out knowing we had found the right home. The passion, the energy, and the commitment made it clear this was the right place for the next chapter of Sublime.”
Atlantic will release the upcoming album, but management and strategic direction remain firmly with Regime.
The band is also celebrating the 30th anniversary of their 1996 self-titled album with two nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on April 17 and 18, launching a year-long anniversary run. That celebration will continue with the debut of Sublime Me Gusta Festival on May 9 in Fort Worth, Texas.
For Sublime, this is not a reboot. It is a strategic expansion. Independence built the momentum. Atlantic now provides global infrastructure. Regime remains at the helm.
