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

Gear Music tech Tech

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

Music Music tech Software Tech Web

Share

Tweet

Jazz Szu-Ying Chen and Surgeon remind us why craft and art matter

Surgeon’s Shell~Wave easily tops my favorite techno records from 2025, a nice return to form for Tresor Records. But as we’re awash in generated artwork, let’s devote our own brain cycles instead to listening to Surgeon talk to Taiwanese artist Jazz Szu-Ying Chen about the craft of making this album cover by hand.