3 Beat was founded in 1989 by Jon Barlow and began life as a second-hand record stall in Liverpool's Quiggins market. At the time the UK was falling under the spell of house music and in Liverpool there were few places to buy it until Barlow and two other vinyl addicted students (Dave Nicoll and Phil Southall) decided that the hours journey to Manchester's Eastern Bloc was becoming a bit dull and 3 Beat opened its doors with a shop on Wood Street. The shop went on to win numerous awards including the prestigious Music Week independent retailer of the year award in 2002.
Business quickly boomed, leading to the birth of the 3 Beat record label when customers started bringing in demo tapes to the shop.
3 Beat also set up the now legendary G-Love club night which fast became one of the best night's in the country. The last Thursday of every month, queues would stretch for miles as clubbers came from as far afield as London and Glasgow to feel the G-Love. In 1991 the night was voted Best Club Night by Mixmag.
Between 2002 and 2007 the label had multiple hits under the name Boss Records.
In 2007 the label was reborn as 3 Beat Productions building up a hugely talented roster of artists.