Columbia House, a long-standing mail-order club known for its offer of 12 CDs for a penny to new members, has declared its closure after 71 years. The announcement of the shutdown, initially visible over the weekend, stated that the company would stop accepting new orders after 9/15/26. Founded in 1955 as Columbia Record Club by Columbia Records, the company aimed to boost music sales in areas lacking access to physical stores. Over the years, it expanded its offerings to include cassettes, CDs, and later DVDs of movies and TV shows.

At its peak, Columbia House shipped over a billion records and held a substantial share of CD sales, accounting for 15% in 1994. However, with the rise of online music options, the company’s revenue declined, prompting its shift to DVD sales exclusively back in 2010, a move that also led to the closure of its Canadian operations. Despite filing for bankruptcy in the U.S. in 2015, Columbia House continued its operations primarily focusing on DVD sales until this recent closure announcement.

The news of Columbia House’s closure coincides with a resurgence in physical media, especially in vinyl sales, as highlighted by a report on global music trends. Many music enthusiasts have taken to social media to reminisce about their experiences with Columbia House, with some humorously recalling unpaid fees. Although the closure announcement briefly disappeared from the company’s website, inquiries from CBC News regarding the future plans of Columbia House remain unanswered.