Enigma Records

Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, from which it split off in 1985 to become its own company.

Enigma was founded and run by brothers William and Wesley Hein. Jim Martone joined the company in 1984 and ultimately became a partner with the Heins. Enigma focused on punk rock, alternative, and heavy metal music though it also released techno, jazz and classical music through subsidiary labels. The label was initially located in Torrance, California, then El Segundo, California and finally Culver City, California.

Enigma Records was initially distributed through independent record importers/distributors such as JEM Records and Important, and beginning in 1986, arranged distribution through Capitol/EMI, a major record label. Capitol/EMI acquired Enigma from the Heins in 1989 and soon merged its operations into Capitol, moving some of the artists to the various EMI labels. The Enigma Retro division focused on re-issues of material licensed from other labels such as Straight Records, Bizarre Records, and DiscReet Records. Enigma Retro released CD's and cassette versions of albums by artists such as Alice Cooper, Tim Buckley, Captain Beefheart, The GTOs and Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes.

Enigma Records had at one time or another the following bands on its roster: Poison (eventually became a joint venture with Capitol), 45 Grave, Agent Orange, DEVO, Don Dixon, Bill Nelson, Peter Hammill, Al Stewart, Barren Cross, Berlin, Channel 3, Lääz Rockit, Chris Poland, XYZ, The Dead Milkmen, Death Angel, Obsession, Stryper, Great White, Hurricane, Green on Red, Lizzy Borden (through a joint venture with Metal Blade Records), Mötley Crüe, Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper, Ratt, Red Hot Chili Peppers (through a joint venture with EMI America), Slayer (through a joint venture with Metal Blade Records), The Smithereens, Steve Kilbey, Guardian, TSOL, The Untouchables, Wednesday Week, Ike Willis, The Leaving Trains, Plasticland and many other rock and alternative acts. Enigma also released film soundtracks including The Terminator and River's Edge. Enigma also released some Mute Records titles in the United States. Sonic Youth's landmark 1988 album Daydream Nation was originally released on Enigma Records, in association with Blast First Records

At the time of the Capitol distribution agreement in 1986, Enigma formed a subsidiary label, Restless Records, to remain with the indepenent distributors to nurture acts not ready for major label distribution. A subdivision, Restless Retro, inherited Enigma's arrangement with Mute Records.

Enigma's Canadian division was closed in the early 1990s. Several staff members went on to form FRE Records.

When Enigma Records shut down its Canadian operations it also created one of the first full service independent marketing, publicity, promotion and management companies in the music industry DMD Entertainment.

See also

• List of record labels