Iconic music retailer Sanity to shut its bricks and mortar stores for good

For decades it's been the port of call for kids grabbing their first CD, but now Aussie music and entertainment retailer Sanity is closing up its physical doors.

Sanity was founded by business heavyweight Brett Blundy with just a single store in 1980 called Jetts, in Pakenham, Victoria.

It sold vinyl records and cassette tapes.

By 1992, the brand relaunched as Sanity with the first outlet under that name in Doncaster, in Melbourne's north-east.

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The company was purchased by Ray Itaoui 13 years ago.

Now, as online shopping - particularly for music - takes an ever-larger share of the market, Sanity has announced it will close its 50 physical stores by the end of April this year, in line with their respective lease expiries.

"With our customers shifting to digital for their visual and music content consumption, and with diminishing physical content available to sell to our customer, it has made it impossible to continue with our physical stores," Itaoui said.

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"Our online business - sanity.com.au - will continue to operate, and will service the many loyal customers the brand has continued to be dedicated to over the decades."

"Our priority right now is to ensure each of our team members knows exactly what this means for their career and employment future."

He said item orders placed at physical stores would still be shipped out, including pre-orders, which would be delivered through the online store if the lease in question had expired by then.

People are urged to check up on their orders if they have questions by emailing enquiries@sanity.com.au.

All gift vouchers will also be redeemable online.