Editing Enigma Records (section)

==History==
Enigma Records launched as a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent [[music]] importer/distributor, in 1981.<ref name=elperiodico/><ref name=Hein/> Four years later, in 1985, Enigma severed ties with Greenworld and became its own company.<ref name=billboard2/> Enigma was initially located in [[Torrance, California]],<ref name=spin/> then [[El Segundo, California]]<ref name=latimes/> and finally [[Culver City, California]].<ref name=spin2/> Enigma was founded and run by brothers William and Wesley Hein.<ref name=Hein /> Jim Martone joined the company in 1984.<ref name=music180/> Enigma focused on [[punk rock]], alternative, and [[heavy metal music]]<ref name=spin/> though it also released [[techno]] (Synthicide Records), [[jazz]] (Intima Records) and [[European classical music|classical music]] (Enigma Classics) through subsidiary labels.<ref name=billboard2/>

The label's first release was [[Mötley Crüe]]'s ''[[Too Fast for Love]]''.<ref name=billboard2/> The album was initially released under the band's own [[Leathür Records]] imprint but manufactured, marketed and distributed by what would become the Enigma Records team. After the band moved on to [[Elektra Records]], the Enigma Records name was adopted and all subsequent artists were released under this new name. Enigma's next major success was with the pop band [[Berlin (band)|Berlin]].<ref name=billboard2/><ref name=notc/>

Enigma Records was initially distributed through independent record importers/distributors such as [[Jem Records]] and [[Important Records]]. In 1984, Enigma entered into a joint venture with [[EMI America]] to sign and develop new artists. Among the artists signed under the venture were the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] and [[SSQ (band)|SSQ]] (later renamed [[Stacey Q]] and signed to [[Atlantic Records]]).  In 1986, Enigma moved its distribution to [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]/[[EMI]],<ref name=billboard2/> a major record label, while leaving its [[Restless Records]] division with the independent distributors that had previously distributed Enigma. [[Poison (American band)|Poison]], a glam rock band, and [[The Smithereens]] were two of the first artists released under the joint Enigma / Capitol relationship, both of which had significant success. That same year it launched a music video line, which was also distributed by Capitol.<ref name=billboard/>

One of Enigma's biggest commercial successes was with the Christian rock band [[Stryper]], which had several gold and platinum records on the label as well as significant international success.<ref name=q103/>

In addition to the primary Enigma Records label, the company had two smaller subsidiary labels as well as a music publishing company (La Rana / El Porto Music administered by [[Bug Music]]). Enigma Retro focused on re-issues of material licensed from other labels such as [[Straight Records]], [[Bizarre Records]], and [[DiscReet Records]]. The [[Restless Records]] division focused on alternative artists not intended for major label distribution. Enigma also released film soundtracks including ''[[The Terminator]]'' and ''[[River's Edge]]''. Enigma released a compilation album, ''[[Enigma Variations (album)|Enigma Variations]]'', with various artists. Enigma had a joint venture with [[Mute Records]] and released certain Mute 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]].

Enigma was formally acquired by Capitol/EMI in [[1989 in music|1989]].<ref name=Hein /><ref name=latimes/> Some of its catalog and operations were merged into the still independent Restless Records in 1991.<ref name=rym/>

Enigma's Canadian division was closed in 1992 and was reorganized into [[FRE Records]] before shuttering in 1999, after which its back catalogs was sold to [[DROG Records]].

The Enigma catalog is controlled by [[Capitol Music Group]], owned by [[Universal Music Group]] which acquired Capitol's former parent EMI and the majority of its recorded music operations in 2012. [[Disney Music Group]]'s [[Hollywood Records]], distributed by UMG, handles the reissues of Stryper's Enigma albums. The catalog of Devo's albums and Enigma titles that were merged into Restless is owned by [[Warner Music Group]], which acquired Restless's previous parent [[Rykodisc]] in 2006, and distributed by the [[Alternative Distribution Alliance]].