[2] 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.
[3] 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.
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 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 signed a deal with INO Records, a division of Integrity Media, to distribute and market its entire roster.