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When the Music's over: Columbia House Is Shutting Down After 71 Years
The mail-order club, once a CD-era giant, is winding down after bankruptcy and years of shrinking inventory in a streaming market.
- Columbia House, the 71-year-old mail-order club, will stop accepting new orders after September 15, 2026. The company announced the shutdown on its website, ending decades of operations.
- Founded in 1955 as the Columbia Record Club, the company reached 16 million members by 1996 and generated $1.4 billion in revenue during the CD boom. It adapted to changing formats but faced mounting competition.
- Following competition from big-box retailers and internet piracy, Columbia House filed for bankruptcy in 2015, with revenue plummeting to $17 million by 2014. The company pivoted to selling DVDs but struggled to remain viable.
- Cord Cutters News first reported the impending closure after YouTube channel Channel 33 RPM spotted the announcement. The company's inventory had dwindled to just 12 DVD and Blu-ray options remaining.
- Despite criticism over its controversial "negative option" billing practices, Columbia House survived 71 years by adapting formats. Existing customers can still purchase books with credit or credits as normal after the September 15 deadline.
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Mail-order club that promised 12 CDs for a penny pulls its closing announcement
Columbia House, the company that lured millions of customers into mail-order memberships with the promise of 12 CDs for a penny, said it was shutting down after 71 years. CBC News has contacted the company after the notice was removed from its website.
·Ottawa, Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources53
Leaning Left5Leaning Right1Center38Last UpdatedBias Distribution86% Center
Bias Distribution
- 86% of the sources are Center
86% Center
12%
C 86%
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