Loudness Wars

The Loudness Wars refer to a trend in music production where tracks are mastered to sound as loud as possible, often sacrificing dynamics and sound quality. This is achieved by boosting volume levels and compressing audio, making everything sound consistently loud to grab attention. However, this can lead to listener fatigue and a loss of nuance, as quieter details get drowned out. The pursuit of loudness has been driven by competition among artists and labels to stand out on radio, streaming, and playlists, but many now recognize it can diminish the overall listening experience.