Optimizing Your Music for Digital Distribution
How do I Approach Mastering for Streaming Platforms?
Streaming platforms have changed mastering requirements. Older mastering approaches optimized for CD and radio. Modern mastering optimizes for algorithm preferences, loudness standards, playback on various devices. Understanding these requirements ensures your music competes on streaming platforms.
Understanding Loudness Normalization
Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most streaming platforms normalize loudness. They analyze each song’s perceived loudness and adjust playback level so everything sounds similarly loud. This means louder master doesn’t sound louder on streaming—it just sounds compressed.
For streaming, aim for loudness target of approximately -14 LUFS. This is sweet spot across platforms. Mastering for -8 LUFS actually sounds worse on streaming because platform turns it down, and excessive compression ruins sound. Leave headroom in your master—don’t push peaks to digital 0dB. Aim for peaks around -3dB to -1dB. Learn more at Country Music Association resources.
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