Private company

Restless Records

Logo: https://logos.fandom.com/wiki/Restless_Records?file=Restless_recordslogo3.png, PD, via Wikipedia3

American record label

Restless Records was an American record label founded in El Segundo, California in 1985 by Enigma Records and primarily released alternative, metal and punk records. In addition to its own catalog, Restless licensed and distributed records from labels such as Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records. The company also operated a wholly owned subsidiary, Pink Dust Records.2 It is part of Rykodisc.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1986Founded1
  • HeadquartersHollywood1
  • Founded inLos Angeles1

Restless Records was an American record label founded in El Segundo, California in 1985 by Enigma Records and primarily released alternative, metal and punk records. In addition to its own catalog, Restless licensed and distributed records from labels such as Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records. The company also operated a wholly owned subsidiary, Pink Dust Records.2

The story

In 1991, Restless and a number of Enigma Records titles were acquired by Bill Hein and Joe Regis and re-launched in Hollywood, California.

In 1992, Restless acquired the Twin/Tone Records label and classic titles by such artists as The Replacements, Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks and Ween. This added to Restless' already substantial catalogue of titles by They Might Be Giants, The Cramps, The Dead Milkmen, Devo, The Flaming Lips, Stiff Little Fingers, T.S.O.L. among others.

In 1993, Restless co-founded Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA) with Warner Brothers Music Group (WMG) to handle its distribution and certain titles released by Warner Bros., Elektra Records, Atlantic Records, their affiliates and Sub Pop Records. Sub Pop subsequently became a partner in the venture. Within 10 years, ADA went on to become the largest distributor of independent music in America.

In 1997, Restless was acquired by New Regency Productions, a leading independent film production company which had signed a 15 year distribution deal with 20th Century Fox that same year. Restless remained a subsidiary of New Regency until 2001, during which time, Restless released many of New Regency's soundtracks including L.A. Confidential, Fight Club and Malcolm In The Middle (the title song to which earned They Might Be Giants a Grammy in 2001).

In 2001, after New Regency sold its stake back to Hein and Regis, Restless entered into a distribution agreement with Ryko Distribution. This partnership ultimately led to the label's acquisition by Ryko Corporation. Ryko itself was later acquired by Warner Music Group in 2006.

From Wikipedia’s article on Restless Records, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

  • Rykodisc

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 1986Founded Founded in Los Angeles1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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