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Enigma Records

November 01, 2023

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

Enigma Records
Parent companyGreenworld Distribution (until 1985)
EMI (from 1989)
Universal Music Group (back catalog)
Disney Music Group (Stryper catalog)
Warner Music Group (Devo and Restless catalogs)
Founded1980 (1980)
FounderWilliam and Wesley Hein
Defunct1991 (1991)
StatusDefunct
Distributor(s)Capitol Records (reissues)
Hollywood Records (Stryper reissues)
GenreHard rock, heavy metal, alternative, punk[1]
Country of originUnited States
LocationTorrance, El Segundo, Culver City, California

History edit

Enigma Records launched as a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, in 1981.[2][3] Four years later, in 1985, Enigma severed ties with Greenworld and became its own company.[4] Enigma was initially located in Torrance, California,[1] then El Segundo, California[5] and finally Culver City, California.[6] Enigma was founded and run by brothers William and Wesley Hein.[3] Jim Martone joined the company in 1984.[7] Enigma focused on punk rock, alternative, and heavy metal music[1] though it also released techno (Synthicide Records), jazz (Intima Records) and classical music (Enigma Classics) through subsidiary labels.[4]

The label's first release was Mötley Crüe's Too Fast for Love.[4] 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.[4][8]

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 (later renamed Stacey Q and signed to Atlantic Records). In 1986, Enigma moved its distribution to Capitol/EMI,[4] a major record label, while leaving its Restless Records division with the independent distributors that had previously distributed Enigma. 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.[9]

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.[10]

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, 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.[3][5] Some of its catalog and operations were merged into the still independent Restless Records in 1991.[11]

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 edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Seidenberg, Robert (August 1985). "The Enigma Variations". Spin. p. 31. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  2. ^ Gil, Paco Pepe (October 31, 2019). "Chiswick, Stiff, Creation...: 10 razones de peso para comprarle discos a un sello independiente" [Chiswick, Stiff, Creation ...: 10 compelling reasons to buy records from an independent label]. El Periódico de Catalunya (in European Spanish). Retrieved March 9, 2020. 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)
  3. ^ a b c "Wesley Hein". LinkedIn. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e Goodman, Fred (July 18, 1987). "Putting Business back Into the Music Business". Billboard. pp. E-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Knoedlseder, William K., Jr (July 28, 1989). "Polygram Will Buy Island Records for About $300 Million". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 9, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Ad for the Cramps Stay Sick album". Spin. April 1990. p. 23. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  7. ^ . Music 180.com. Archived from the original on August 22, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
  8. ^ "Enigma Records History" (PDF). New on the Charts. March 4, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  9. ^ Sutherland, Sam (May 3, 1986). "Capitol Is Solution for Enigma Distribution". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 18. pp. 4, 71. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
  10. ^ "Stryper History". Q103 Albany. October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  11. ^ "Enigma Records". Rate Your Music. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2011.

November 01, 2023
enigma, records, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, august, 20. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Enigma Records news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Enigma Records also known as Enigma Entertainment Corporation was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s Enigma RecordsParent companyGreenworld Distribution until 1985 EMI from 1989 Universal Music Group back catalog Disney Music Group Stryper catalog Warner Music Group Devo and Restless catalogs Founded1980 1980 FounderWilliam and Wesley HeinDefunct1991 1991 StatusDefunctDistributor s Capitol Records reissues Hollywood Records Stryper reissues GenreHard rock heavy metal alternative punk 1 Country of originUnited StatesLocationTorrance El Segundo Culver City California Contents 1 History 2 Artists 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editEnigma Records launched as a division of Greenworld Distribution an independent music importer distributor in 1981 2 3 Four years later in 1985 Enigma severed ties with Greenworld and became its own company 4 Enigma was initially located in Torrance California 1 then El Segundo California 5 and finally Culver City California 6 Enigma was founded and run by brothers William and Wesley Hein 3 Jim Martone joined the company in 1984 7 Enigma focused on punk rock alternative and heavy metal music 1 though it also released techno Synthicide Records jazz Intima Records and classical music Enigma Classics through subsidiary labels 4 The label s first release was Motley Crue s Too Fast for Love 4 The album was initially released under the band s own Leathur 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 4 8 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 later renamed Stacey Q and signed to Atlantic Records In 1986 Enigma moved its distribution to Capitol EMI 4 a major record label while leaving its Restless Records division with the independent distributors that had previously distributed Enigma 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 9 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 10 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 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 3 5 Some of its catalog and operations were merged into the still independent Restless Records in 1991 11 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 edit7 Seconds 20 20 45 Grave Agent Orange Bardeux Barren Cross Battalion of Saints Berlin David Cassidy Casteel Celtic Frost Channel 3 Close Lobsters The Cramps Dead Milkmen Death Angel The Descendents Devo The Dickies Don Dixon The Effigies Roky Erickson Fear The Fibonaccis Game Theory Get Smart GG Allin Girlschool Great White Green on Red Guardian Peter Hammill Allan Holdsworth Hurricane Husker Du Jon and the Nightriders Steve Kilbey Lȧȧz Rockit Laibach The Leaving Trains Lizzy Borden The Minutemen Ronnie Montrose Mojo Nixon Motley Crue Motorhead Bill Nelson Obsession Pere Ubu Plan 9 Plasticland Poison Chris Poland Rain Parade Ratt Red Flag Red Hot Chili Peppers Redd Kross The Residents Sacred Reich Greg Sage Skid Roper Saxon Screamin Sirens Shooting Star Slayer The Smithereens Sonic Youth Al Stewart Stryper Tex and the Horseheads They Might Be Giants Thor Tom Peterson and Another Language T S O L The U Krew Untouchables The Vandals Ben Vaughn Vinnie Vincent Invasion Voivod Wall of Voodoo Wednesday Week Wild Dogs Ike Willis Wire XYZ ZnowhiteSee also editList of record labelsReferences edit a b c Seidenberg Robert August 1985 The Enigma Variations Spin p 31 Retrieved March 9 2020 Gil Paco Pepe October 31 2019 Chiswick Stiff Creation 10 razones de peso para comprarle discos a un sello independiente Chiswick Stiff Creation 10 compelling reasons to buy records from an independent label El Periodico de Catalunya in European Spanish Retrieved March 9 2020 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 a b c Wesley Hein LinkedIn Retrieved June 18 2011 a b c d e Goodman Fred July 18 1987 Putting Business back Into the Music Business Billboard pp E 4 Archived from the original PDF on March 9 2020 Retrieved March 9 2020 a b Knoedlseder William K Jr July 28 1989 Polygram Will Buy Island Records for About 300 Million Los Angeles Times Retrieved March 9 2020 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Ad for the Cramps Stay Sick album Spin April 1990 p 23 Retrieved March 9 2020 Jim Martone Music 180 com Archived from the original on August 22 2011 Retrieved June 18 2011 Enigma Records History PDF New on the Charts March 4 2017 Retrieved March 9 2020 Sutherland Sam May 3 1986 Capitol Is Solution for Enigma Distribution Billboard Vol 98 no 18 pp 4 71 Retrieved June 18 2011 Stryper History Q103 Albany October 22 2016 Retrieved October 22 2016 Enigma Records Rate Your Music Archived from the original on July 17 2012 Retrieved June 18 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Enigma Records amp oldid 1135788355, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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