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Ardent Records
Ardent Records, often shortened to "Ardent," is a Memphis record label founded by John Fry in 1959. Ardent of the 1960s and 1970s featured pop music acts and was distributed by Stax Records from 1972 until 1975. It is best remembered today for Big Star, whose first two albums, released in 1972 and 1974, helped define the style known as power pop. The label was initially an attempt by the R&B-focused Stax to move into rock music, but distribution problems prevented any releases from succeeding. Big Star became widely known through 80s reissues and the long delayed first release of Third/Sister Lovers, recorded in 1974.
The label was revived in the 1990s with two divisions: Alternative Mainstream and Contemporary Christian. Former Big Star guitarist Alex Chilton released recordings on the Ardent mainstream division, which also released recordings by bands such as Spot, Jolene, Two Minutes Hate, The Idlewilds, Neighborhood Texture Jam, and Techno-Squid Eats Parliament. The mainstream division of Ardent Records was closed in the mid-1990s.
Ardent's Christian label issued its first Christian releases in 1995. Initial projects included albums from Big Tent Revival, Skillet, and Smalltown Poets. To date, Ardent Records has released more than 35 albums by artists such as Skillet, Todd Agnew, Jonah33, Smalltown Poets, Satellite Soul, Clear, All Together Separate, Brother's Keeper, Justifide, Before You Breathe, NonFiction and Joy Whitlock. In 2005, Ardent inked a deal with INO Records, a division of Integrity Media, to distribute and market its entire roster.
The label's albums are recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis.
Lava Records
Lava Records was established in 1995 as a joint venture between Atlantic Records and Jason Flom, who began his career with Atlantic Records. One of the most accomplished A&R people in the music industry, in his early career Flom was responsible for signing such artists as Zebra, Twisted Sister, Skid Row, White Lion, and Tori Amos, as well as helping launch the careers of Stone Temple Pilots and Collective Soul. Since Lava's inception, among the artists the label has brought to prominence are Authority Zero, Antigone Rising, Kid Rock, Matchbox Twenty, Porcupine Tree, Skillet, Smile Empty Soul, Sugar Ray, The Corrs, Uncle Kracker, Vanessa Williams, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Simple Plan.
In August 2005, Flom resigned as chairman and chief executive of Atlantic Records, ending a 26 year career within the company. Flom was named chairman and CEO of Virgin Records U.S., following the departure of Matt Serletic that same month. In October 2005, Warner Music Group combined Lava Records with its Atlantic Records Group. Warner originally planned the move following Flom's resignation.
In early 2009, Flom reclaimed the Lava Records imprint from Warner and revived the label under the Universal umbrella. Flom described the rebirth as: "A new start with the same philosophy: find great artists in the rock and pop genre, develop them, work with good partners, and make the biggest records in the business." Lava operates as joint venture with Universal Republic, who provide promotion, marketing, sales and distribution services. Flom said that he wanted to work with co-presidents Avery and Monte Lipman because "[they] are among the best in the business at breaking new artists".
Lava has signed artists including Jessie J, Kaile Goh, and Black Veil Brides
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records (Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz. Over its first 20 years of operation Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most important American independent recording labels, specializing in jazz, R&B and soul recordings by African-American artists, a position greatly enhanced by its distribution deal with Stax Records.
In 1967 Atlantic became a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, now the Warner Music Group, and expanded into rock and pop music, signing Cream, Led Zeppelin, Yes and Foreigner. In 2004 Atlantic Records and its sister label Elektra Records merged into Atlantic Records Group. Craig Kallman is currently Chairman of Atlantic Records. Label co-founder Ahmet Ertegün served as Founding Chairman until his death on December 14, 2006 at age 83.The label also has a number of deals with previously independent labels such as Must Destroy (which brought Goldie Lookin Chain and The Darkness into the label) and VP Records in Jamaica, home to reggae artists such as Sean Paul.
ForeFront Records
ForeFront Records is a Christian Music record label founded in 1987 by Dan R. Brock, Eddie DeGarmo, Dana Key, and Ron W. Griffin. It was purchased by EMI in 1996 from current owners Dan R. Brock and Eddie DeGarmo and is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group.
In 1998, ForeFront released a 2-CD compilation to celebrate their 10th Anniversary. The album was titled Ten: The Birthday Album and featured songs from several of their artists at the time. Some of the songs were remakes of older songs done by new bands.
INO Records
INO Records, also known as Fair Trade Services, is an American record label based in Nashville, Tennessee, specializing in CCM. It is distributed through Sony Music Entertainment, and was owned by Integrity Media until June 2011. When Integrity Media sold its assets to David C. Cook Publishing label founder/President Jeff Mosely purchased the label assets.
It was the parent label of SRE Recordings, which concentrated more on Christian rock released until that label folded with the sale of INO Records to founder Jeff Mosley. All remaining SRE recording artists are now under the banner of Fair Trade Services. It continues to use the INO Records name.