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 closure, initially spotted by music enthusiasts over the weekend, stated that after September 15, 2026, the company would no longer accept new orders.

Originally established in 1955 as the Columbia Record Club by Columbia Records, the company aimed to reach consumers in areas without access to traditional record stores. Over time, the business expanded to include new technologies such as cassettes, CDs, and eventually DVDs of movies and TV shows.

The company’s unique marketing strategy, which enticed customers with promises of multiple music items for just a penny, proved successful. Columbia House experienced significant growth, shipping over a billion records and contributing to 15% of CD sales by 1994, as reported in a 2011 article by the Boston Phoenix.

However, with the rise of online music options, Columbia House’s revenue declined, leading to the cessation of music sales in 2010 when the company, then owned by Direct Brands, shifted its focus solely to DVD sales and closed its Canadian operations.

Notably, Columbia House’s parent company, Filmed Entertainment Inc., filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. in 2015, but the company continued to operate on DVD sales until this recent closure announcement.

The news of Columbia House’s closure comes at a time of renewed interest in physical media, with vinyl sales experiencing a resurgence in 2025, according to a report on global music trends. Despite previous challenges, Columbia House remains a nostalgic icon for many music enthusiasts, prompting reminiscences and humorous reflections on social media.

Although the closure announcement was removed from Columbia House’s website, CBC News has attempted to reach out to the company for further details without receiving a response yet.