24/08/2025
has removed the law that previously allowed packages valued under $800 to be delivered customs-free to American customers. This means any order shipped from the UK to the US will now be subject to tariffs, handling fees, and customs charges. Some sources suggest the fee to be a minimum of $80 per shipment, regardless of the package’s value! 😭
This will be a massive blow to many UK businesses and independent labels. For us, with around 30% of our sales going to the States (a figure expected to grow significantly with the release of Undiluted), this could be massively damaging - not just for us, but for the UK music industry as a whole. 😡
Unfortunately, most fans won’t be able to afford these extra costs, and many independent labels may be forced to partner with distributors just to survive. This could fundamentally change the landscape for independent music. 🤯
All we can do now is hope and pray that negotiate an exemption, or at least a lower threshold. 🙏
This change takes effect on August 29th, and Royal Mail has announced it will suspend parcel deliveries to the U.S. starting Tuesday until their systems are updated to handle the new rules. Right now, things are moving so quickly that nobody has all the answers, and the situation feels very uncertain. 😤
Scary times ahead. 🍻
