[1] Subscription record selling first appeared in the early 1930s during the Depression, but the practice was renewed with heightened interest in the post-World War II years of the mid- and late-1940s.
The Concert Hall Society was founded in 1946 by Samuel and David Josefowitz to produce classical music records, distributing them through a mail-order club.
[3] In early 1952, the advent of the Musical Masterpiece Society by the Josefowitz brothers reflected a movement to promote record clubs as a mass sales tool.
Crowell-Collier Publishing Company announced in February 1956 its intention to enter the record club arena, using its 10,500,000-subscriber base for solicitation.
[9] Due to the retail dealer furor it created, the club was shut down a year later, in November 1954.
Dealers were upset by club benefits which included a free dividend record for every three purchased, and feared loss of direct sales as a result.
[10] Columbia revamped the membership plan and benefits, and allowed for dealer participation in the enrollment and purchase process, in a revised club that was announced in August 1955.
[12] Instead, in March 1956, RCA initiated its Save-on-Records coupon booklet plan, entitling the holder to discounts and bonus records through retail dealers.
[17] The enthusiastic response prompted Capitol to announce a full-scale drive to establish its record club.
Thereafter, eight selections were offered monthly, in four categories: classical; listening and dancing; Broadway, movies, television and musical comedies; and jazz.
In 1991, Sony partnered with Time-Warner in a joint venture that enabled Columbia House to market both companies' music and video offerings.
In 2002 the enterprise was sold to an investment group,[30] and three years later was acquired by BMG Direct Marketing (an outgrowth of RCA Direct Marketing, successor to the RCA Victor Record Club), and was renamed BMG Columbia House.