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End of an Era: Columbia House Shuts Down in 2026
17 Aug
Summary
- Columbia House will cease new orders after September 15, 2026.
- Founded in 1955, it reached 16 million members at its 1996 peak.
- The company faced bankruptcy in 2015 and stopped selling music.
After 71 years in operation, the historic mail-order music club Columbia House will officially cease accepting new orders on September 15, 2026. The once-dominant music retailer, established in 1955 as Columbia Record Club, experienced its zenith in 1996 with a staggering 16 million members. Its widespread popularity was amplified by memorable commercials that promoted its "best in entertainment" offers.
Columbia House eventually transitioned through several ownerships. Following a bankruptcy in 2015, the company discontinued its music sales, pivoting exclusively to DVDs. It was also known for practices such as negative option billing, a method that drew criticism for its automatic billing policies unless a customer explicitly opted out.
