Image of hard-shell tacos; photo CC-BY Karl-Martin Skontorp

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Taco Tuesday: reason to be cautiously optimistic about tariff relief

Trump’s unprecedented tariffs are starting to hit reality following a Supreme Court defeat over the weekend. Music gear consumers shouldn’t expect any immediate cost relief. But while the picture is complicated and the major problems remains the chaos Trump is causing, there are some hopeful indications for makers and musicians both inside and outside the USA in the longer term.

Bandcamp is taking a stand against generative AI; will it work?

Bandcamp is the first major platform to impose a strict prohibition of generative AI. The principles are clear, but how will it work in practice? And is this more symbolic than practically meaningful? Here’s a first look.

Peter Kirn - January 14, 2026

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Trump tariffs bring chaos, as shipments halted from Europe, Asia

The Trump administration’s trade policies do more than increase costs for US consumers. Their historic scale and disorganized rollout are causing global disruptions. That hurts independent music gear makers and label owners. It’s also ironically likely to cripple manufacturers trying to work in the USA. The only (sort of) good news: shippers and exporters are trying to find solutions, and at least some of the disruptions should be temporary. But those solutions won’t come free.