After 71 years in operation, a mail-order club known for offering new members up to 12 CDs for a penny has declared its closure. Columbia House, which halted music sales and Canadian operations in 2010, recently removed the closure announcement from its website. CBC News has made efforts to contact the company for further details on its future plans.
The notice of closure was first noticed by music enthusiasts over the weekend, stating that after September 15, 2026, Columbia House would cease accepting new orders. Originally established by Columbia Records in 1955 as Columbia Record Club, the company sought to broaden music sales to areas lacking access to traditional record stores. Over time, the mail-order business expanded its offerings to include cassettes, CDs, and later DVDs of movies and TV shows.
Early customers were enticed by magazine and newspaper promotions promising multiple music releases for a penny, with a commitment to purchase a set number of releases monthly. This business model proved successful, with Columbia House having shipped over a billion records and capturing 15% of CD sales by 1994.
However, with the rise of online music options, the company’s revenue declined. In 2010, under the ownership of Direct Brands, Columbia House ceased music sales and shifted its focus solely to DVDs, eventually closing its operations in Canada.
In 2015, the parent company of Columbia House, Filmed Entertainment Inc., filed for bankruptcy in the U.S., though the company continued to operate quietly on DVD sales until now. In a statement that year, Columbia House disclosed that its revenue peaked at around $1.4 billion US in 1996.
The announcement of Columbia House’s closure comes amidst a resurgence in physical media consumption. Data from Music Canada revealed a surge in vinyl sales in 2025, with record stores reporting increased business.
While many had bid farewell to Columbia House following its bankruptcy filing in 2015, this recent news has sparked nostalgia among music fans, prompting them to reminisce about the company’s role in their music collections and jest about outstanding fees. Despite the removal of the closure notice from its website, CBC News is still awaiting a response from Columbia House regarding its status.