Music 20 years ago today, Nirvana signed their record contract with Sub Pop Jan 1, 2019 Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Linkedin ReddIt Email Print On this day in 1989, Nirvana signed a one-year recording contract with Sub Pop records. The Seattle based label began not as a record label but as a fanzine (called Subterranean Pop), in the early 80s, also signed Soundgarden and Mudhoney.