Columbia House, Mail-Order Media Company, Is Shuttering

Columbia House, the legendary mail-order music club that launched in 1955 with its famous "12 albums for a penny" offer, is shutting down on September 15, 2026. The company, which once boasted 16 million members at its peak in 1996, had pivoted to selling DVDs and Blu-rays online after declining sales from big-box retailers, internet growth, and music piracy decimated its core business. The closure marks the end of an era for one of the most iconic subscription services in entertainment history.