The imposition of tariffs and duties on imported products in the United States, as well as the "tariff war" with China, began to have a significant impact on the music industry and the music equipment market. The Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, Sonicware, has warned customers in the United States of an imminent increase in the price of the Sonicware CyDrums drum machine. The manufacturer noted that the change in cost will be significant: due to tariffs, the price of the instrument will rise from $399 to $900.
The manufacturer advised customers to purchase the instruments within the next month to avoid the new prices.
The company said the reason for the increase was the tariffs imposed by the U.S. on imports of goods made in China. The company's instruments are made to order in factories in China and are made almost entirely of Chinese components, making Sonicware's products subject to the tariffs.
In the spring of 2025, Donald Trump imposed tariffs on all goods imported into the United States. The highest tariffs were imposed on China, whose products are subject to a 145% tariff. By comparison, the tariffs for most other countries ranged from 10-30%.
It is worth noting that all countries on the tariff list received a 90-day delay from the introduction of duties - during this time the administration of Donald Trump expects to agree with other countries on "mutually beneficial terms of trade". In this case, the postponement does not affect China, for which the import duties took effect immediately after their introduction.
The problem with tariffs is that China, like other countries exporting to the U.S., has built higher tariffs into the final cost of its goods. This behavior has led to predictable price increases - what cost customers $20 yesterday may cost $50, $100 or more today, depending on the tariff applied.
According to Sonicware, which was one of the first to speak publicly about the impending major price hike, the imposed tariffs increase the indirect cost of producing a single copy of CyDrums by $578. The company has made no secret of the fact that most of this amount is due to import duties for goods made in China. Representatives of the brand advised American customers to order the drum machine and other instruments within the next month to buy the goods at the old price.
John Mlynczak, head of the US National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), said that the music industry is not immune to tariff wars. According to the official, it is obvious that the industry will feel the effects of the tariffs in the near future, but the long-term impact of their actions still requires a detailed assessment. The executive sent an appeal to the administration of Donald Trump, urging politicians to exempt musical instruments and related products from the new tariffs. In the text of the letter, Mlynczak cited the risk of undermining the global competitiveness of U.S.-made music products, emphasizing the importance of products for entry-level and professional musicians, where affordability and quality are critical factors.
The NAMM executive stressed that tariffs have an unpredictability that can destabilize the economic structures that support the creative industries. And while the tariff delays "provide temporary relief," the looming uncertainty is not positive for the industry.
