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Columbia House to cease mail-order operations after September 15, 2026

Columbia House will officially shut down its mail-order business on September 15, 2026, marking the end of a 71-year run. The company, which launched in 1955 as a way to reach music fans in rural and suburban areas, became a household name in the 1980s and 1990s for its iconic subscription model. It famously offered promotional deals such as 12 CDs for one cent, though subscribers were often required to purchase a minimum number of full-priced albums to maintain their membership. At its peak in the mid-1990s, the company boasted over 16 million members and accounted for 15% of all CD sales in America. However, the rise of digital music services and streaming platforms eventually led to a decline in market share. After filing for bankruptcy in 2015, the brand transitioned from music to DVDs and Blu-ray movies. The current iteration of the brand, operated by Edge Line Ventures, will continue to offer book purchases until the final mail-order date.

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