Editing Enigma Records

{{Short description|American record label}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2013}}

{{Infobox record label <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Music -->
| name        = Enigma Records
| image       = Enigma logo.png
| image_alt   = Enigma logo
| parent      = Greenworld Distribution (until 1985)<br>[[EMI]] (from 1989)<br>[[Universal Music Group]] (back catalog)<br>[[Disney Music Group]] (Stryper catalog)<br>[[Warner Music Group]] (Devo and Restless catalogs)
| founded     = {{start date|1980}}
| founder     = William and Wesley Hein
| defunct     = {{end date|1991}}
| status      = Defunct
| distributor = [[Capitol Records]] (reissues)<br>[[Hollywood Records]] (Stryper reissues)
| genre       = [[Hard rock]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[alternative rock|alternative]], [[punk rock|punk]]<ref name=spin/>
| country     = United States
| location    = [[Torrance, California|Torrance]], [[El Segundo, California|El Segundo]], [[Culver City, California]]
}}

'''Enigma Records''' (also known as '''Enigma Entertainment Corporation''') was a popular [[rock music|rock]] and [[alternative rock|alternative]] American [[record label]] in the 1980s.

==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]].

==Artists==
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[7 Seconds (band)|7 Seconds]]
*[[20/20 (band)|20/20]]
*[[45 Grave]]
*[[Agent Orange (band)|Agent Orange]]
*[[Bardeux]]
*[[Barren Cross]]
*[[Battalion of Saints]]
*[[Berlin (band)|Berlin]]
*[[David Cassidy]]
*[[Casteel]]
*[[Celtic Frost]]
*[[Channel 3 (band)|Channel 3]]
*[[Close Lobsters]]
*[[The Cramps]]
*[[Dead Milkmen]]
*[[Death Angel]]
*[[The Descendents]]
*[[Devo]]
*[[The Dickies]]
*[[Don Dixon (musician)|Don Dixon]]
*[[The Dream Syndicate]]
*[[The Effigies]]
*[[Roky Erickson]]
*[[Fear (band)|Fear]]
*[[The Fibonaccis]]
*[[The Flaming Lips]]
*[[Game Theory (band)|Game Theory]]
*[[Get Smart! (band)|Get Smart!]]
*[[GG Allin]]
*[[Girlschool]]
*[[Great White]]
*[[Green on Red]]
*[[Guardian (band)|Guardian]]
*[[Peter Hammill]]
*[[Allan Holdsworth]]
*[[Hurricane (American band)|Hurricane]]
*[[Hüsker Dü]]
*[[Jon and the Nightriders]]
*[[Steve Kilbey]]
*[[Lȧȧz Rockit]]
*[[Laibach]]
*[[The Leaving Trains]]
*[[Lizzy Borden (band)|Lizzy Borden]]
*[[Mekons]]
*[[The Minutemen (band)|The Minutemen]]
*[[Ronnie Montrose]]
*[[Mojo Nixon]]
*[[Mötley Crüe]]
*[[Motörhead]]
*[[Naked Raygun]]
*[[Necros]]
*[[Bill Nelson (musician)|Bill Nelson]]
*[[Michael Vescera|Obsession]]
*[[Pere Ubu]]
*[[Plan 9 (band)|Plan 9]]
*[[Plasticland]]
*[[Poison (American band)|Poison]]
*[[Chris Poland]]
*[[Rain Parade]]
*[[Ratt]]
*[[Red Flag (band)|Red Flag]]
*[[Red Hot Chili Peppers]]
*[[Redd Kross]]
*[[The Residents]]
*[[Sacred Reich]]
*[[Greg Sage]]
*[[Skid Roper]]
*[[Saxon (band)|Saxon]]
*[[Screamin' Sirens]]
*[[Shooting Star (band)|Shooting Star]]
*[[Slayer]]
*[[The Smithereens]]
*[[Sonic Youth]]
*[[Al Stewart]]
*[[Stryper]]
*[[Surf Punks]]
*[[Tex and the Horseheads]]
*[[They Might Be Giants]]
*[[Thor (band)|Thor]]
*Tom Peterson and Another Language
*[[T.S.O.L.]]
*[[The U-Krew]]
*[[Untouchables (band)|Untouchables]]
*[[The Vandals]]
*[[Ben Vaughn]]
*[[Vinnie Vincent Invasion]]
*[[Voivod (band)|Voivod]]
*[[Wall of Voodoo]]
*[[Wasted Youth (American Band)|Wasted Youth]]
*[[Wednesday Week (band)|Wednesday Week]]
*[[Wild Dogs]]
*[[Ike Willis]]
*[[Wire (band)|Wire]]
*[[XYZ (US band)|XYZ]]
*[[Znowhite]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[List of record labels]]

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=elperiodico>{{cite news
| first       = Paco Pepe
| last        = Gil
| title       = Chiswick, Stiff, Creation...: 10 razones de peso para comprarle discos a un sello independiente
| trans-title = Chiswick, Stiff, Creation ...: 10 compelling reasons to buy records from an independent label
| date        = 2019-10-31
| website     = [[El Periódico de Catalunya]]
| language    = es-ES
| url         = https://www.elperiodico.com/es/port/ideas/20191031/chiswick-stiff-creation-mejores-discograficas-independientes-strokes
| access-date  = 2020-03-09
| quote       = In 1980, Enigma Records was created by the brothers William and Wesley Hein as a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music distributor and importer. A few years later they split from the parent company and moved to California and dedicated themselves to promoting and supporting alternative music bands and artists. ... Notable artists include: The Dream Syndicate, Don Dixon, The Cramps, Agent Orange, Rock Erickson, Green On Red, The Minutemen, Rain Parade, Redd Kross, The Vandals, Wednesday Week, Stryper and The Smithereens. ''(translated from Spanish)''}}</ref>
<ref name=Hein >{{cite web
| title       = Wesley Hein
| website     = [[LinkedIn]]
| url         = http://www.linkedin.com/pub/wesley-hein/0/a2/b60
| access-date  = 2011-06-18}}</ref>
<ref name=music180>{{cite web
| title       = Jim Martone
| website     = Music 180.com
| url         = http://music180.com/pros/14
| access-date  = 2011-06-18
| url-status  = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110822192948/http://music180.com/pros/14 
| archive-date = 2011-08-22}}</ref>
<ref name=notc>{{cite web
| title       = Enigma Records History
| date        = March 4, 2017
| website     = New on the Charts
| url         = http://www.notc.com/Content/Spotlights/1984/EnigmA-Records-9-84.pdf
| access-date  = 2020-03-09}}</ref>
<ref name=billboard>{{cite magazine
| first       = Sam
| last        = Sutherland
| title       = Capitol Is Solution for Enigma Distribution
| date        = 1986-05-03
| magazine     = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]
| volume      = 98
| issue       = 18
| pages       = 4, 71
| url         = https://books.google.com/books?id=1iQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4
| access-date  = 2011-06-18}}</ref>
<ref name=billboard2>{{cite magazine
| first       = Fred
| last        = Goodman
| title       = Putting Business back Into the Music Business
| date        = 1987-07-18
| magazine     = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]
| pages       = E-4
| url         = https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Billboard-IDX/IDX/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-07-18-OCR-Page-0060.pdf
| access-date  = 2020-03-09}}{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}</ref>
<ref name=q103>{{cite web
| title       = Stryper History
| date        = 2016-10-22
| website     = Q103 Albany
| url         = http://q103albany.com/30-years-ago-stryper-releases-to-hell-with-the-devil/
| access-date  = 2016-10-22}}</ref>
<ref name=latimes>{{cite news
| first       = William K. Jr
| last        = Knoedlseder
| title       = Polygram Will Buy Island Records for About $300 Million
| date        = 1989-07-28
| website     = [[Los Angeles Times]]
| url         = http://articles.latimes.com/1989-07-28/business/fi-294_1_island-records
| access-date  = 2020-03-09}}</ref>
<ref name=rym>{{cite web
| title       = Enigma Records
| website     = [[Rate Your Music]]
| url         = http://rateyourmusic.com/label/enigma_records
| archive-url  = https://archive.today/20120717225419/http://rateyourmusic.com/label/enigma_records
| url-status  = dead
| archive-date = 2012-07-17
| access-date  = 2011-06-18}}</ref>
<ref name=spin>{{cite news
| first       = Robert
| last        = Seidenberg
| title       = The Enigma Variations
| date        = August 1985
| page        = 31
| website     = [[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]
| url         = https://books.google.com/books?id=TZaFMCee5HQC&pg=PA31
| access-date  = 2020-03-09}}</ref>
<ref name=spin2>{{cite news
| title       = Ad for the Cramps ''Stay Sick'' album
| date        = April 1990
| page        = 23
| website     = [[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]
| url         = https://books.google.com/books?id=GJ2P1hu6nToC&pg=PA23
| access-date  = 2020-03-09}}</ref>
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Enigma Records| ]]
[[Category:Alternative rock record labels]]
[[Category:Classical music record labels]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Defunct record labels of the United States]]
[[Category:Rock record labels]]
[[Category:EMI]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in California]]
[[Category:1991 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:Record labels disestablished in 1991]]
[[Category:Record labels based in California]]
[[Category:Techno record labels]]