https://wearethemusicmakers.co/latest Music tech and AI in music: the news that matters, what we think about it, and a directory of the tools. en-us Mon, 31 Aug 2026 05:30:00 GMT https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/08/japan-record-market-h1-2026-streaming-46-percent-vinyl-up-42 https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/08/japan-record-market-h1-2026-streaming-46-percent-vinyl-up-42 Japan's recorded music market grew to an estimated ¥196.5 billion in the first half of 2026, up 4%, and streaming made up 46% of it. CDs fell 11% to ¥72.0 billion and vinyl rose 42%, but physical formats together still slightly outsold digital. For international indies, Japan remains the one big market where the plastic you press can matter as much as the playlist you land on. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 05:30:00 GMT We are the music makers industryjapanriajstreamingphysical-mediacdvinylindependent-artists https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/08/vinyl-300-copy-run-tariffs-break-even-2026 https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/08/vinyl-300-copy-run-tariffs-break-even-2026 US vinyl passed $1 billion in wholesale value in 2025, but the US tariff system still taxes the inputs a pressing plant buys more than the finished records it competes with. We set out what a 300-copy run costs on published price lists, and an illustrative worksheet showing where an independent artist breaks even. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:30:00 GMT We are the music makers industryvinyltariffsphysical-mediaindependent-artists