Columbia House, a mail-order club known for offering new members up to 12 CDs for a penny, has announced its closure after 71 years. The company, which halted music sales and Canadian operations in 2010, recently removed the closure announcement from its website.
Initially founded as Columbia Record Club by Columbia Records in 1955, Columbia House aimed to reach regions lacking access to traditional record stores. Over the years, the business expanded its offerings to include cassettes, CDs, and later DVDs of movies and TV shows.
The innovative model, which enticed early customers with promises of multiple records or CDs for just a penny, proved successful. By 1994, Columbia House had shipped over a billion records and accounted for 15% of CD sales. However, with the rise of online music options, the company’s revenue declined. In response, in 2010, under the ownership of Direct Brands, Columbia House shifted its focus to DVD sales and ceased its Canadian operations.
Notably, the parent company of Columbia House filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. in 2015 but continued to operate primarily through DVD sales. The company reported its revenue peak in 1996 at around $1.4 billion US.
The closure announcement has sparked nostalgia among music enthusiasts, with many reminiscing about their experiences with Columbia House’s iconic music collection model. Despite the disappearance of the closure notice from the website, Columbia House has not yet provided further details about its future plans.
