Why Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ vinyl avoids tariffs

On Friday, the 24-year-old Tayra McDaniels will go down the stairs of the East Village Apartment Building, and the pre-ordered vinil version of Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” will have a different color and a different collection cover. Will go then Aim To install three more special CDs and another vinyl.

Transport will cost him more than $ 200. Orum I know there’s a lot of money, dedi he said. “But I don’t want to miss it.”

A point of the price: Mcdaniels and other Vinyl fans will not have to worry about the tariffs in their transportation.

Vinyl records, CDs and cassettes, Trump administration “minimis” exemption from late August has survived. The exemption, which allows the importation of packages with less than $ 800 without tariffs, is designed to simplify customs for low -cost imports and reduce fees for both consumers and small retailers. Trump’s return to exemption allowed tariffs to enter into force on such posts – but not on physical music.

A Cold War Period Earry International Emergency Economic Forces Law prevents presidents who are known as Berman Change from regulating the flow of “informative materials”, a category containing physical music, books and works of art.

“If Vinyl had been tariff, you may probably be able to see the price of a record up to $ 40 and $ 50,” Berklee Music College Professor Ralph Jaccodine said to CNBC. He said. “So this is a pleasant news for people who buy physical music.”

The exemption, which protects one of the fastest growing segments of the music industry, is also welcomed in Wall Street.

Vinyl sales have returned by young buyers and nostalgia appetite during the last decade, especially during the pandemi. PVC discs now make up about three quarters of all US physical music revenue-2020 a leap of approximately 20%, American Registration Industry Association.

“It is very encouraging and a little relief to classify physical music formats from tariffs,” Ryan Mitrovich said Vinyl allianceProducers, distributors and music labels that work with the physical media that encourages physical media is a non -profit organization. “However, we don’t really get anything here with chaotic climate around trade cuts.”

Sales explosion, Universal Music GroupOr UMG working with Swift.

According to Entertainment Data Company, his latest album “torture poets department” Sold 3.49 million physical and digital copies LuminaireIn 2024, a leap ride of 9.6% in the second quarter of the UMG was compared with the same period in 2023. Physical income containing vinyl increased by 14.4% in the quarter.

Without a quick album on the shelves this year, UMG’s most Latest earnings The report increased by 4.5% in annual income in July, but physical income decreased by 12.4%. UMG shares fell by 24% after the release of July earnings.

Universal Music Group refrained from commenting.

The decline may be short -lived. Predictions Rap An estimate that the first -week vinyl sales of Swift’s new 12 -piece album, which released on Friday, can switch to 1 million.. “

“Taylor Swift has a unique ability to direct the market with the decisions of what and how to publish music,” Jaccodine said, working with artists like Bruce Springsteen. He said. “The release of Swift can probably cause and will be exploded in music business.”

“We support tariffs because production helps us and we want to be a part of the wave of doing something in the USA.” HAND RECORDSHe told CNBC.

Industry experts with the largest manufacturer, most of the vinyls were pressed abroad, he said. GZ MediaCzech -based. GZ CEO Michal štěrba said the company made the best -selling albums for artists such as Lady Gaga, Madonna and U2. On average, the company produces 1 recordings in 4 recordings from plants around the world, including Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee.

“Our aim is to keep production as close to the customer as possible, so that a record sold in the USA was made in the United States.”

If the tariffs are applied, štěRBA said that costs will be transferred to consumers.

“Keeping tariff costs away from the supply chain – regardless of the product or country – consumers benefit through better pricing,” he said. He said. “Ultimately, if tariffs are applied, it is usually the customer who needs to pay a higher price.”

Cushing is a board member Vinil Record Manufacturers AssociationHe said he believed that if the tariffs apply for Vinil, there would be more American business.

“We can put more hard -working Americans to work with good wages,” he said. “Our company makes 2 million records with only 60 people a year. If you want to enlarge production, this will be a great industry.”

Cushing said US manufacturers did not have the capacity to address an album on the scale of Swift. However, for smaller -scale artists, Import tariffs can change more business world, he said.

“Our raw materials are scheduled, but globally rising, but with the costs of transport and material costs, the regional transport in the United States has a lower inventory, but can help reduce costs.” He said.

Some American manufacturers prevented extra costs earlier this year.

“The tariffs were absolutely estimated and the industry has been preparing for a while,” Mitrovich from Vinyl Alliance, ” He said. He continued: “Many companies have seen that many companies defend against it by increasing their stocks in ink, PVC and other things in the months that cause tariffs.”

For many artists, physical sales remain more profitable than the flow.

Open SpotifyJaccodine said that based on an artist’s contract with record companies, it usually varies between $ 0.003 and $ 0.005 per flow. Meanwhile, artists often like 10% to 25% of copyrights in physical records. American Composer, Writers and Publishers Association.

“If you’re not just a handful of musicians, you don’t make enough money to sustain from the flow.” He said. “Products such as records, CDs, cassettes, hats, hoodies and ticket sales for large and small artists.”

For comparison, Swift’s Eras Tour is the highest revenue tour of all time 2 billion dollars The New York Times is worth a ticket for 149 shows for two years. Meanwhile, according to Billboard’s figures, it won between 200 million and 400 million dollars from the flow platforms in the same period.

Analysts expect the vinyl market to continue to expand, although not at the explosive speed It was seen during the pandemi.

Industry experts, Gen Z’nin vinyl’s re -revival, he said. In a survey conducted by the music manufacturer, approximately 60% of children aged 18-24 years Lock production He said that they listened to physical music with the highest in any demographic group. The questionnaire was held in the UK on February 27, 5 March 2024 and had 503 participants.

The return of Vinil also launched an explosion in the number of “variants” published: albums or single -single prints of albums with alternative cover art, colorful discs or vinyl special bonus parts.

In Tiktok, “Vinil Hauls”, as fans show rare variants and collections, have millions of views, curls demand and motivates fans to buy fans like McDaniels.

“This is a kind of Pokémon,” Mcdaniels said. “There is fomo [fear of missing out] If someone has a variant. “

Experts, Gen Z’s interest in Vinile is a response to digital burnout, he said.

“Many group screens pay for access to content, but it does not have anything, this gives them physical ownership.” He said. “Vinil is against all the ease of listening to modern music, and that’s why people want it.”

No artist has benefited more from the trend.

According to Luminat, “Torture Poets Department” was the best album of 2024, which made up more than 6% of its total album sales. Swift came out 36 different album variants Digital and physical music in the USA.

“A Showgirl’s Life” comes in at least seven different color vinyl variants with a unique cover. For Swift and UMG, each special edition of a vinyl recording, CD or cassette has the potential to generate millions of extra revenue.

“The sales of Swift’s albums are moving as a driving force for the reserves of almost the whole music industry,” Jaccodine said. He said. “Fans are waiting for breathing to release fans, but so is the industry.”

For Mcdaniels and thousands of other superfans, the ongoing question is how easy it is to get special variants first.

Orum I know people think it’s crazy, dedi he said. “As long as a vinyl remains below $ 75 for a new version, I feel like it is worth it. Like an addiction to get them, but I love gathering them.”