The Loudness War, Explained in Numbers (LUFS)

Music by the Numbers · Meshplugins.com

For decades, records got louder and louder. Then streaming quietly ended the war with one number: about −14 LUFS.

LUFS measures perceived loudness. Streaming platforms turn every track toward a shared target, which changed the math of mastering forever.

Related: average song length, streaming loudness targets (LUFS) and how to mix vocals like a pro.

Here's the punchline: many charting tracks are still mastered around −8.4 LUFS — then streaming turns them down by roughly 5–6 dB to hit the target. All that crushing and limiting accomplished nothing volume-wise; it only cost dynamic range.

What it means for your masters

You no longer win by being loudest — streaming erases the advantage and keeps the damage. Master for tone and dynamics, aim in the ballpark of the target, and let the platform handle level. Louder is no longer better; it's just flatter.

FAQ

What LUFS should I master to for streaming?

Most platforms normalise to around −14 LUFS (Apple Music −16). Mastering much louder just gets turned down, so aim in that ballpark and prioritise dynamics.

Is the loudness war over?

Effectively yes. Because streaming normalises playback loudness, mastering a track louder no longer makes it stand out — it only sacrifices dynamic range.

Sources & method

Mixing Lessons · sonible

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Who's behind this

Ivan Meshcheriakov · IvanFromRnD

5+ years ago I moved to LA with zero connections and started building from nothing — 14-hour days, meeting people and interning at studios. It took me 5+ years to meet and interview 100+ Grammy-winning engineers — then I turned it all into the Vocal Chain Bible.

Read my full story →