Columbia House, a long-standing mail-order club known for its popular promotion offering new members 12 CDs for a penny, has announced its closure after being in operation for 71 years. The company, which ceased its music sales and Canadian operations in 2010, initially shared the news of its closure on its website before removing the announcement on Tuesday.
Enthusiasts of the music club first noticed the closure notice over the weekend, stating that after September 15, 2026, Columbia House would no longer accept new orders. Established in 1955 as the Columbia Record Club by Columbia Records, the company aimed to reach consumers in regions without access to physical record stores. Over the years, the mail-order business expanded its offerings to include cassettes, CDs, and later DVDs of movies and TV shows.
Initially attracting customers through magazine and newspaper inserts promising multiple music items for just a penny, Columbia House experienced significant success. By 1994, the company had shipped over a billion records, representing 15% of all CD sales. However, as online music platforms gained popularity, Columbia House’s revenue declined. In 2010, under new ownership by Direct Brands, the company transitioned from selling music to focusing solely on DVD sales and eventually closed its Canadian operations.
Despite facing financial challenges, Columbia House continued to operate on DVD sales until now, following its parent company’s bankruptcy filing in the U.S. in 2015. The company reported its revenue peaked at around $1.4 billion in 1996. The closure announcement comes at a time when there is renewed interest in physical media, with vinyl sales experiencing a resurgence in recent years.
The news of Columbia House’s closure has reignited nostalgia among music fans who reminisce about the company’s unique music collection model. Many have taken to social media to share memories and jokes about past interactions with Columbia House. CBC News has reached out to Columbia House for further details following the removal of the closure announcement from its website but has not yet received a response.
