Columbia House, a mail-order club known for its iconic offer of 12 CDs for a penny to new members, has announced its closure after 71 years. The company, which halted music sales and operations in Canada back in 2010, recently removed the closure announcement from its website.
First noticed by music enthusiasts over the weekend, the notice stated that Columbia House would cease accepting new orders after 9/15/26. Originally established in 1955 by Columbia Records as Columbia Record Club, the company aimed to reach consumers in areas without easy access to record stores. Over the years, the business expanded to include cassettes, CDs, and later DVDs of movies and TV shows.
At its peak, Columbia House was a massive success, shipping over a billion records and accounting for 15% of CD sales by 1994. However, as online music options grew, the company’s revenue declined. In 2010, under Direct Brands ownership, Columbia House transitioned to selling only DVDs and closed its Canadian operations.
The parent company of Columbia House, Filmed Entertainment Inc., previously filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. in 2015 but continued operating with DVD sales. In 1996, the company reported revenue peaking at around $1.4 billion US.
Despite the rise of digital media, there has been a resurgence of interest in physical formats like vinyl. The closure of Columbia House has sparked nostalgia among music lovers, with many reminiscing about the company’s classic offers and joking about unpaid fees. Columbia House has not yet responded to inquiries following the removal of its closure announcement from the website.