Analytic Dreamz: Notorious Mass Effect - "2025 TARIFFS EXPLAINED: HOW GAMING & MUSIC INDUSTRIES FACE PRICE HIKES"

Episode Date: May 12, 2025

Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠Become A Patron Of The Notorious Mass Effect Podcast For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme! Join Our Patreon Here: ⁠https://ow.ly/oPsc50VBOuH⁠Join Analytic Dreamz on Notorious Mass Effect for in-depth gaming and music industry analysis. Each segment dives into critical trends, like the 2025 tariffs impacting gaming hardware, physical media, and tabletop games, with prices soaring (e.g., Nintendo Switch 2 at $500–$600, tabletop games up 60%). Music faces vinyl and instrument cost spikes (20–50%) and tourism declines. Analytic Dreamz breaks down stats, global trade risks, and digital shifts, offering sharp insights for gamers and music fans. Stay informed with fresh, data-driven discussions every segment.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Now here at the notorious mass effect, we love to get into the music and gaming industry. With that being said, there's things that happen outside of our realm as far as what I cover and what this podcast is about that affect what we do for enjoyment. Now, that being said, of course, we have to get into the inevitable, which is tariffs affect. your wallet as you already know we're talking about the game music industry I'm going to talk about the effects that the tariffs have on that specifically but for you who's watching right now analytic dreams on video on Spotify to see the video with along with the audio but essentially tariffs affect your wallet in the sense of raising prices on imported goods such as phones clothes and food

So when it comes to that, a lot of people are ignorant to the point where they do not want to address the fact that tariffs will ultimately have an effect on how you spend your money, right? It's going to affect the economy, but more specifically what this podcast is about is going to affect that as well. So that's why I wanted to dive into entirely. So that's what this segment is about. because when it comes to the tariff situation as far as U.S., Canada, Mexico, China, and how consumers are facing the brunt of this tariff war as far as higher prices for groceries, electronics, and cars due to the tariffs, of course, and the tariffs on imports from these countries, more specifically when it comes to Canada's energy and Mexico's auto sectors,

hit hard with China's exports like electronics also being increased as far as the the cost value, you come to realize that now it has affected the gaming and music industry. So now let's get into that entirely. Starting with the gaming industry, you already know that when it comes to the manufacturing elements, a lot of video game hardware and consoles have been affected because of the tariffs. Now, what specifically? Well, I'm glad you asked. Because of the tariffs, up to 104% as far as tariffs on China specifically, 24% on Japan, 46% on Vietnam, and 10% in other countries. Now, what consul falls in that region? Well, I'll save you the suspense, right? The Nintendo Switch to unfortunately fell subject to this.

tariffs were as the original price was $449 but the projected price is set to increase to make it 500 to 600 as far as what the estimates are so when the tariffs were happened or the tariffs were going on right now that is what the projected price is going to be because of what the u.s is doing as far as implementing these tariffs now also combining that with the supply chain as chinese chips are you are you utilize heavily in the u.s right also when it comes to japanese assembly when it comes to the vittamese manufacturing uh manufacturing system there's a lot of tariffs that's going to be stacked upon each other to the point where now we're coming out of more money in the sense of helping the u.s people right we're coming out of more money and they're telling us oh we're helping you doesn't

really correlate as far as if you're a US citizen that's why we get into this type of thing because now when it affects the gaming and music industry which is more lighthearted as far as other avenues where it's affecting people i cover it in the way that i cover it because i cover gaming music so that's why i'm letting you know how it's going to affect what you do as far as in the gaming sector and of course i'm going to get to the music sector in just a second so that been said physical video games they're also subjected to these tariffs as when it comes to 25 percent tariffs on physical game disc because of Mexico production, right? When it comes to Mario Kart world on a switch two set at $80,

people are assuming that that's also because of tariffs. And then when it comes to shifting to digital, which you think would be cheaper for the consumer, right? Well, of course you're wrong as shifting the digital only raised the production costs and accelerated to move away from physical disk because now. People are looking at these tariffs. They're trying to get away from it as far as the physical aspect of,

no, as far as the digital aspect. And they're still getting tariffs put on top of that because of how the tariffs is being implemented. So when it comes to, well, shifting to tabletop gaming, right? Tariffs spike from 54% to 104% in China to the point where now the, I don't even know how to pronounce this. It's Cepha.

Lafair Cephalofair games in parentheses is gloomhaven so if you know about that I have no idea what that is I'm just reporting on it right So they faced a hundred and seventy three thousand in new taxes on one point two million of goods and with that being said Now the generic example that's been given because of these tariffs the way that's going to affect retail prices is that that things that are usually, let's say, $25 are not going to be priced at 40, right? That's what the assumption is and the estimate of the overall effect of these tariffs. So it's going to affect everything. That is why I'm getting into gaming and music specifically, because this is not a political podcast. I'm not letting you know who to vote for.

I'm just letting you know what the landscape is because of these tariffs. So that being said, getting back into the industry side of things. Gamma has came out and said that tariffs could bankrupt many publishers. Now, I'm going to look at what Gamma is. I don't know. What is Gamma? I know it's an abbreviation for something, but I didn't know what it is, right? So, Gamma is the Game Manufacturers Association.

Okay, it's like the NBA for gaming. You got to love that, right? A nonprofit trade organization based in Columbus, Ohio, dedicated to a, advancing the non-electronic social gaming industry, including tabletop games, miniatures, card games, role playing games, etc., right? So they basically came out, said tariffs could bankrupt many publishers. And a lot of people are sharing the same sentiments across the board. It's not even just gaming and music.

We're specifically getting into that because once again, I cover gaming and music. So I want you to think, oh, this is becoming a political podcast. I'm just talking about things that affect what I cover daily and what you come for, as far as the news and information, as far as the music and gaming industry. These things affect that industry. So that's what I'm covering it. So that being said, getting back into the economic and consumer side of things, right? 10991 million weekly gamers are in the US.

So with these high prices due to tariffs, it could shrink participation. And a lot more people are going to start playing the free to play games, rather than hopping on the latest AAA studio game because it's $70 to $80 such as Mario Kart World, right? I mean, you look at the charts right now and majority of them are free to play. If you look at the charts, you see a lot of, let me see. Okay, yeah, you see Fortnite. Collard Duty is not exactly free. You see a lot of different sports games that's going on sale.

and then of course you see older that's basically what i'm trying to say you will see older games percolating in the top 10 more often because of these tariffs because people already weren't playing new games like there's like a stat out on how people prefer three to four year old games compared to games that just came out i don't know what the science is behind that but i would assume it's saving money right and now with the terrorists being implemented they're going to have uh even tighter margin as far as exposable or as far as what they choose to use their exposable income on so with that being said it's a huge deal especially I'm not even going to get into the job aspect of things that's really getting into the political side

of things I've really just wanted to talk about the overall effect they have on a gaming industry and of course when it comes to the the global trade war happening currently China has retaliated basically having their own tariffs at 34% plus potential EU digital restrictions that threatens US exports so this is getting pretty serious and that is why I wanted to cover it on the aspect and on the spectrum that I'm covering right now as far as gaming the music so with the gaming part set to decide now let's shift focus to the music industry what could be affected by tariffs you could probably already assume certain things would be affected and you probably would be correct as the most obvious as far as physical media when it comes to vinals and CDs the tariffs that specifically has been implemented on Canadian imports as far as 10% right then you have up to a hundred and four percent on Chinese materials and then you have the content consequence of vinyl prices going from whatever their price was before tariffs to increasing by 20 to 30 percent it's a very huge deal so i don't want to beat a dead horse i'm just letting you know specifically how this is going to affect your pockets right independent labels are going to start having even they're going to have an even harder time trying to put forth the money for these vinyl costs right if an independent artist is only selling

a certain amount and they asked their major label for a certain amount of vinyl for their fans. Now, even though if you may have the fans, your label may not want to front you the money because the prices are exorbitant right now, which hurts the independent artists to the point where the overall percentage of the music industry usually is pretty minuscule as far as compared to a UMG son or a Warner. But currently the market landscape as far as the market share. right umg has 51% of the entire music market share sony has 23% warner has 19% and then others which is basically smaller labels and individual uh independent acts they have a whopping 7% so when i'm talking about this it's not like oh this may happen oh this is what i think is going to happen this is happening these tariffs have been implemented and things are rising at a expeditious page to copy my man

ti right well pause um but that being said let's get back into the musical instruments right because that's also going to be an effect of what these tariffs are uh targeting as 104 percent on tariffs as far as chinese made guitars that's a huge increase in price then you have microphones Ladies and gentlemen, we have finally put tariffs on microphones. But then, you know what I'm saying?

I was like, damn, look at the state of hip-hop. Like, what's going on? I know what you're thinking? Isn't that hypocritical because of what you do? You know how many people are in my comment section daily telling me, oh, I can't wait until they put tariffs on podcast and equipment. I'm just looking at my current setup, and I'm like, how is that going to affect me? You know what I'm saying?

That's going to affect the up-and-coming people trying to get into the space. But, you know, people are beyond ignorant at this point. So it's nothing surprises me as far as what hops into my comment section. But that being said, so the putting tariffs on guitars, microphones, of course, mixers, and the increased prices are estimated to be up to 50%. Obviously, this changes for every manufacturer, every company. But average-wise, is the estimates that I'm giving you right now. So there's going to be higher, well, in consequence of that.

the effect of the tariffs and musical instruments and equipment is going to result in higher recording costs, especially for independent acts. I really feel for the independent acts because you're coming out of your pocket. It's like a teacher at a middle school or junior high. Like you're coming out of your own pocket already for certain things to uplift your career and the people you affect. Now, it's going to be even harder as an independent because. because these artists that are already successful in getting certain advances from the music label, even though it may be lower than it used to be, independent acts are going to have to come out more of the own, come out of the pocket even more because guess what?

There's no major label that's going to pick up an emerging artist, just the gamble in this economy, you know? So it's going to hurt independent studios and emerging artists the hardest, which is usually the case. And if COVID didn't show you one thing is that the mom and pop stores can't really handle the brunt of the absence of consumers or even the absence of opportunity. So now tariffs is taking away a lot of different opportunities because now major labels are looking at their budget and they're going to put way more gamble into artists that have already had a track record that are already successful, right? then they are on an emerging artist. So that's why I say independent studios and emerging artists are going to be hit the hardest. So then of this, okay, we continue with the music industry, right?

Music, tourism and live events are going to see a huge, it's going to be a huge effect on this, just the downfall of ticket sales to the point where estimates came out, right? And Canada, the overall tour. tourism dropped by 10%. Now, a lot of people could attribute that to a lot of different things, but in the musical landscape and tourism, a lot of people like music in Canada. I mean, just to point it out, the weekend and Drake had some of the more phenomenal, impactful albums of 2025.

An artist from Canada in prison, mind you, just ended up doing what? It was 30 plus thousand. Let me see. I think. So, Torrey Lanes. Tori Lane's from prison put up 24,000 first week. Ladies and gentlemen, that's an artist from Canada. So not only do we have some of the biggest musicians in general from Canada,

not only do we have an artist from prison putting up 24,000 units first week. But sometimes you just realize that people go to Canada to try to fill out the culture of what cultivated these artists that they've grown to love as far as a Drake, as far as the weekend. So when they tour Canada, that's one of the main things they want to see is just music. live events, right? So overall tourism and Canada drop 10% not saying that's the only reason. I'm just saying one of the main reasons people go to Canada. And then also Nashville, who's definitely known for music, which I actually been to, you know, that's one of the more highlights of just adventures in my life because you're seeing certain things from different aspects and different perspectives. It's one of the things I think elevates you in life. That's why I think

traveling is one of the main things you could do to get more of a, understanding of just humans right and off at that point Nashville has had a lot of cancellation so when it comes to what's there there's like a slogan they have Nashville music because I know I know they're known for country right and Morgan Wallen goes there all the time and Post Malone went there when he was rolling out his album so it's really impactful for culture but it's known as music city because I remember seeing the sign even at the place we was at it was like this huge sign in the place i was like what is that music city that's kind of arrogant and then you get to actual uh what they call it i think it was broadway and then you realize why

they called themselves that i mean it was just clubs with live music on top of and it was like in the same building they would have three different levels all had live performers on each one of those levels like it was just different so anyways um people going to nashville to experience that now due to tariffs, right? It has lessened to the point where Flair Airlines came out and said they had 18,000 seats canceled. Once again, you can always attribute that to other things going on in economy, but I want to keep this lighthearted. So I'm not going to get into that. All I'm going to say is that's one of the factors people go to Tennessee. Well, that's one of the factors that plays apart into why people go to Tennessee as far as they get that musical atmosphere and understand what's

happening in that landscape. And then, of course, in Buffalo, I'm not going to lie to you. I'm I don't know why people go into Buffalo. Maybe I'm tripping. I don't know why people, why people going to Buffalo? They want to see football in the snow? Anyways, the adversity is a 14% drop as far as people going to Buffalo. I don't even know why that's on there. It says in Canadian visitors, but why are Canadians going to Buffalo?

Like, what's the, hold on. Let me think. I really don't care. This is one of the more ignorant parts of this segment. I do not care why there was a 14% drop of people going to Buffalo because why was you going there in the first place. I ain't going to not to you. So I should move on from that.

Digital music and retaliatory risk happened as far as smartphones and TV prices could receive certain increase because of tariffs, right? And when it comes to that, EU and China, going back to the retaliatory part, is considering targeting U.S. digital services. So like I said, people are trying to transition from physical to digital. Why? because the tariffs are running rampant and increasing the cost across the board so they try to go to digital but now the way the tariffs are set up not even digital products are set up to be safe as i remember responding to a comment on one of my uh i think it was on a youtube platform which you know shameless plug click my link true in my bio to follow me in my social medias i'll post daily about the gaming and music industry but somebody commented on how i was asking why are people pirating nintendo games games. I already knew the answer, but I just wanted to start conversation. So a lot of people were just saying, you know, F Nintendo. Oh, Nintendo's screwing over their consumers, you know, all that crazy stuff.

But then one person was basically breaking it down and saying how there was uplifting or increasing the cost of digital products because of the tariffs. And then somebody responded saying, why would digital products be increased because of tariffs? And I remember, let me see if I can find that. I remember giving an answer because I always do research when I respond to people. I don't like to just give fake news. right so i remember let me see if i can find that nintendo is here somewhere uh let me see why do people pirate nintendo games yes this one and then let me go to the comment section okay so

okay so film invincible which is a phenomenal name said is um oh let me just put it on the screen i i should be i see right now uh let me hold let me take myself away I can see that. Okay, Atlantic, I mean, Atlantic, analytic dreams video on Spotify to see the video along with the audio. Anyways, so essentially, Femvincible said, well, you see the conversation right here, right? And I already recapt it. So I'm not going to go over it. So Femvincible said, how is a digital purchase affected by the tariffs? I basically responded saying digital purchases face tariffs if classified as imports. again, going back to the legal and political jargon that they'd be throwing around. So that increases cost. Rules vary by country, often targeting services of goods from foreign providers.

And then of course, Vincible responded to my comment saying, well, it's a PG podcast. So let's just say, she said, man, the tariffs are insane. So, you know, we try to give educational content over here at the notorious mass effect without sounding preachy because, of course, this is not a political platform. But the main thing I do want you to know is to not be ignorant when it comes to the effects of the tariffs. Because maybe I could help you know beforehand that you should probably start saving because of the effects that it's really going to have when we really get into the crust of the tariffs process. Because right now we're at the beginning. So a lot of things are reacting and retaliating and stuff like that like I just went over.

But now it's good to save up because you don't know what type of. of long-term effects these tariffs are going to have, right? So that's basically it as far as me getting into the effects on the music and gaming side. And of course, when it just comes to the U.S. overall plans, this is going to be my only political take. We do not have the manufacturing capacity to substitute cutting off Canada, specifically Canada. but especially these other countries who they help us out a lot when it comes to manufacturing i don't think people realize the wage that people make some of our products on right if you were approached to do certain things with that type of wage that they're doing overseas you would call the police

and i'm going to leave it at that so that being said i don't think we have the manufacturing capacity that's my only political take that's it so i don't agree with the tariffs i'm just letting you know how it's affected the gaming industry how has affected the music industry and overall i just want to let you know that you should probably start saving not to like spook you out anything because you know just like covid you know we find ways to get over certain things and we adapt and evolve well i will hope you adapt and evolve that's one of the best ways to continue in life as far as the success route right these tariffs are going to be around for quite some time so i wanted to give you the overview of how it affected the music and gaming industry while also letting you know beforehand.

So maybe, just maybe, you can have the knowledge beforehand to start saving now. So that being said, click my link to your in my bio. Let me know on one of my social medias. What do you think about the tariffs impact on the gaming and music industry? And if you are in any of those particular industries or even both, what have you seen in your personal life that's been affected the most because of these tariffs? Thank you.