Enigma Records

Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American 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. In 1986, arranged distribution through Capitol/EMI, a major record label. Capitol acquired Enigma from the Heins in 1989 and moved its operations & some of the artists to Capitol. The Enigma Retro division 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 acts not ready for major label distribution.

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.

Enigma's Canadian division was closed in 1992 & was reorganized into FRE Records. However, it filed for bankruptcy in 1996. In 1999, its back catalogs were sold to DROG Records.

Enigma Records

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