The issue of Low Value Consignment Relief - a tax mechanism that permits retailers to use distribution centres in the Channel Islands to sell goods under the value of £18 into the UK without paying VAT - has long been a bugbear of music retailers, who feel it allows online stores to sell CDs for artificially low prices.

Their fears became all the more pronounced after the Government raised VAT from 17.5% to 20% at the start of the year.