P is for Panda

P is for Panda is a record label/clothing company based in Atlanta, Georgia started by Chad Pearson, who founded and ran The Militia Group for 12 years. While the company initially began as a t-shirt company in 2007, it became a proper indie label in 2008 and is an imprint of California based record label, Hopeless Records. Like Hopeless' other imprint, Subcity Records, P is for Panda has a strong charitable arm, with a third of its profits going to various charities.
After leaving his previous label, The Militia Group (which he founded and operated for 12 years), P Is For Panda owner Chad Pearson ironically chose to cut music out of his life entirely. He entered into various career paths that had nothing to do with the industry (baking, construction work), but eventually found himself returning to music. “I started listening to old demos I had gotten and kept, and I started really enjoying myself,” said Pearson. “I had bands reaching out to me, asking me when I would start up again, asking for my advice, and after awhile it just made sense. My love was always there; I just needed to find what I loved about music again.”
Since starting P Is For Panda in 2007, Pearson has found success selling t-shirts, thanks largely in part to support from the indie t-shirt blogging community. Word-of-mouth has proven to be the best form of advertising for Pearson so far, and it’s something he relies on in his business model. Because the company also donates a third of its profits to various charities, keeping costs down by forgoing advertising is important. “I want P Is For Panda to do more than just make a buck,” said Pearson. “I want to help others as best I can.”
Now that P Is For Panda is entering into the realm of music, it’s only natural that Pearson partner with his old friend and fellow humanitarian Louis Posen, head of the thriving independent label Hopeless Records and its philanthropic arm Sub City. “Through all our years of friendship, Chad has always conducted himself in the spirit of making a positive impact with his endeavors, which is a mantra we strive to live up to here at Hopeless/Sub City,” said Posen. “We are deeply honored that Chad picked us to work with him.”
The first release on P Is For Panda is a compilation featuring 16 songs from eight up-and-coming groups, including Gasoline Heart, Discover America, Damion Suomi, Mike Dunn & The Kings Of New England, and more. The label has gone on to release over 10 records and has an active roster of 6 artists, predominantly of the singer-songwriter/folk nature.
P is for Panda has had t-shirt designs from artists Jesse LeDoux, M. Brady Clark, Brian Manley and Roy Fleeman.
Active Artists
*Andy Shauf
*Andy Zipf
*Brandon Clark & the American Standard
*Damion Suomi
*Gasoline Heart
*Lauris Vidal
Alumni
*Mike Dunn & the Kings of New England

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