After serving music lovers for 71 years, a mail-order club known for its famous 12 CDs for a penny offer has recently announced its closure. Columbia House, which had stopped music sales and operations in Canada back in 2010, surprisingly removed the closure announcement from its website on Tuesday. The company’s decision has raised questions about its future, prompting inquiries from CBC News.
The news of Columbia House’s impending closure was first noticed by music enthusiasts over the weekend. The notice specified that after September 15, 2026, the club would no longer accept new orders. Originally established in 1955 by Columbia Records as the Columbia Record Club, the company aimed to reach music fans in areas without easy access to record stores. Over the years, the mail-order business expanded to include new technologies like cassettes, CDs, and later DVDs of movies and TV shows.
The club’s innovative marketing strategy initially attracted customers through magazine and newspaper inserts offering multiple records, tapes, or CDs for just a penny, on the condition that they commit to buying a minimum number of music releases monthly. This approach proved successful, with Columbia House shipping over a billion records and claiming 15% of CD sales by 1994.
However, the rise of online music options led to a decline in revenue, prompting Columbia House to cease music sales in 2010 under new ownership by Direct Brands. The company shifted its focus solely to DVD sales and eventually closed its operations in Canada. Following its bankruptcy filing in the U.S. in 2015, the company continued to operate primarily through DVD sales until now.
Despite the closure, the news of Columbia House has resurfaced fond memories for many music enthusiasts. Social media has been abuzz with tributes and humorous anecdotes about past dealings with the club. CBC News attempted to contact Columbia House after the closure announcement disappeared from its website but has not yet received a response.