A long-standing mail-order club known for its enticing offer of 12 CDs for a penny has declared its closure after 71 years in operation. Columbia House, which halted music sales and closed its Canadian operations in 2010, took down the closure announcement from its website this Tuesday.
Music enthusiasts were first alerted to the closure over the weekend through a notice stating that after 9/15/26, the club would no longer accept new orders. Established in 1955 as the Columbia Record Club by Columbia Records, the club aimed to boost music sales in areas lacking access to physical record stores. Over the years, the business expanded to include cassettes, CDs, and eventually DVDs of movies and TV shows.
The club’s innovative marketing strategy initially attracted customers through magazine and newspaper inserts promising multiple music releases for just a penny, with the condition of committing to purchasing a minimum number of releases monthly. The model proved successful, with Columbia House accounting for 15% of CD sales by 1994 and shipping over a billion records.
However, with the rise of online music options, the club’s revenue declined. By 2010, under new ownership by Direct Brands, Columbia House ceased music sales and transitioned to exclusively selling DVDs, ultimately closing its Canadian operations. The parent company, Filmed Entertainment Inc., filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. in 2015, but Columbia House continued its operations primarily focusing on DVD sales.
Despite the closure announcement, recent data from Music Canada indicates a resurgence in physical media sales, with vinyl records particularly experiencing a surge in popularity in 2025. This development contrasts with Columbia House’s decision to end its music sales operations.
While many had bid farewell to Columbia House’s nostalgic music collection model during its bankruptcy filing in 2015, the recent closure news has prompted music lovers to reminisce on social media about the company’s role in building their music collections. Some users even jest about unpaid dues owed to Columbia House, highlighting the enduring impact of the club on music enthusiasts. CBC News has sought further details from Columbia House following the removal of the closure notice from its website but has not received a response yet.