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Three One G has been putting out records in San Diego for over 10 years, and has hosted bands like the Locust, The Blood Brothers, Get Hustle, Some Girls, Quintron, and many many more. Recently, they have been having problems collecting overdue payment from their former distributor. The following e-mail was sent out by label owner Justin Pearson in May, 2006:

When I started Three One G ten years ago, I wanted to avoid other labels screwing up bands releases that I was part of, and I wanted to be able to control the outcome of what ii was part of. As cheesy as it may sound, I started a label and did it with passion and sincerity. I knew how it felt to tour my ass off and not make money, only depending on quality records to make ends meet. It was a drag at times, but I considered myself an artist and I had what one would call ?punk ethics?. I had morals and was fortunate to be part of a community and culture that helped each other out in so many ways. Over time, I learned the harsh realities of the industry and my career was brought up a few notches and it continued to be brought up over time. One thing led to another and here I am today. Still at this point I struggle financially on all levels, with bands that I am part of as well with Three One g and the ever changing music industry.

Years ago, Three One G made a connection with Mordam distribution on many levels and we created a relationship with them. They were ethically in tune with what we were about. We felt that they understood where we came from artistically and more importantly; they were ethically on the same page as us. Eventually, Lumberjack bought out Mordam. This transition was obviously needed for many reasons; Ruth was losing steam and Lumberjack was growing. Three One G stuck out the transition and did our best with the merge. We understood that the initial merge would be rough in some areas and we were patient with the situations that came up over time. We were honest about the transition and we were open about our concerns. At a certain point, we had to make the decision to leave Lumberjack for the fear that we were not making ends meet and could not grow as a label and as artists.

At one point, we decided that we were not on the same page as Lumberjack as things unfolded and we needed to make a move to better ourselves. Our decision to leave Lumberjack was not hostile and we did it in a respectable manner. I don?t want to get into what we have heard from other labels and peers about practices before and after Three One G decided to leave Lumberjack, but as you know, we acted on the way that Lumberjack and the people from Mordam, whom were still part of the merge, treated us. We left for a situation that we felt was a bit more in tune with our ethics, with no offence to Lumberjack at all. We did not slander Lumberjack or the outcome of the merge. We had respect for the company and the people who were part of it. To us, Lumberjack was a company that was not a place that we felt where we could belong any longer. I personally see it in a way that is along the lines of being in a band. People change and bands split up and move on to do other things. This change that Three One G needed is so much like it has been when I have dismantled bands and felt that musical styles were to different or what one part wanted something that another didn?t. We would look at bands on Three One G like Quintron, or Get Hustle, and we felt that they were not represented with the aesthetics of Lumberjack. This was not and is not a slandering view at all. It?s just obvious that we are an obscure label and that some of our releases were lost in the shuffle. Sure bands like Head Wound City, The Blood Brothers, and Some Girls could sell on their own and fit with the bulk of what was being pushed through the avenues of Lumberjack?s distribution. However we didn?t see this as a home for a large portion of what made up our label. We needed to have a distribution company push all of our releases, not just the obvious ones.

Three One G made a move to a different company and did it in a respectful manner as well as a legal, moral, and considerate manner. As you know, Three One G does not bring in a ton of money compared to labels like Jade Tree, GSL, and or some of the others that might have been labeled as ?bread winners?. So as we left, we were considerate and open with everyone at Lumberjack and thought that we would be treated in the same manner. We have ethics and they are what this label has been based on. These ethics were in mind when we left and were apparent in our actions. To this day, months and months after we have left Lumberjack, we can?t seem to get the financial remainder of what Lumberjack owes Three One G. We are ignored in every attempt that we make to get what is rightfully owed to us. We have been pushed to a point that has us seeking legal action to get the money that has been due for months now. This practice is not what we are about. We didn?t want to bring things to a hostile level in any way. But we have been disrespected and taken advantage of. We are a company that can?t afford to lose the money that Lumberjack owes us and we won?t stand to be treated the way that Lumberjack has treated us after we made the choice to leave.

I would like to understand the motives for the actions, or lack of actions, that Lumberjack has taken with Three One G. When we were working together, we were treated a specific way and we feel that we did nothing that warrants us to be treated as we have been after we had left. So I ask, what have we done to deserve this and why does Lumberjack continue to treat us in a manner that is unacceptable? In this world that we live in, its common place to be treated with disrespect and to be ripped off. But it seems that in a community that is full of artists, musicians and friends, we can treat each other with the respect that the rest of the world falls short on. In this case, it seems as if Lumberjack is missing that very important aspect.

In closing, I would like to thank you for reading this. I doubt that I will hear from anyone at Lumberjack about my opinion on this matter, I just hope that someone there actually takes the time to read my thoughts. I guess our communication from here shall continue to be done via layers. Also, I now wish that Radio Surgery, which is distributed by Lumberjack, had never become a part of the Lumberjack roster as I am also part of that label. I fear a situation with Radio Surgery going sour like this one with Three One G has. I now see how Lumberjack has chosen to run as a business. These actions are a clear sign as to why we had an instinctive feeling to make the move from Lumberjack.

Justin Pearson
Three One G
threeoneg.com