Enigma Digital Acquires Two Radio Web Sites, Plans More

Online radio Web sites KNAC.com and GrooveRadio.com are about to get some sister stations.

The heavy metal and dance music sites have been acquired by Enigma Digital, a Santa Monica Internet music start-up that will announce today that it plans to launch three more online music communities by the end of March.

Curbserver.com will focus on hip-hop music, and the channel will be launched in partnership with Afterlife Entertainment of South-Central Los Angeles, said Bob Ezrin, Enigma Digital’s chairman and co-chief executive.

Acaza.com will play contemporary Christian music, and LuxuriaMusic.com will focus on pop culture and feature an eclectic blend of music, Ezrin said.

Each channel will combine music with editorial content, chat rooms and electronic commerce to create online communities, said Ezrin, a longtime music producer who worked with Pink Floyd, KISS and Peter Gabriel.

Sites focusing on other music genres, such as opera, are likely to follow the initial five, although only some of them will broadcast from Enigma Digital’s Santa Monica studios, he said.

In addition, the company is expected to announce today that it has raised $6.5 million from investors, including Vantage Point Venture Partners, a San Bruno, Calif., venture capital firm whose portfolio companies include EMusic.com, IVillage and Cybergold. Other Enigma Digital investors include Sanctuary Group, a London-based music and media company, and numerous entertainment and financial industry veterans, Ezrin said.