Live Music and the Risk of Hearing Damage

Healthy hearing at music concerts: How loud is too loud?

Live music is one of the most powerful shared experiences in society. It brings people together, lifts our energy, and creates joyful memories that last. But if you’ve ever left a concert with ringing ears, your body is warning you that you’ve been exposed to noise that was too loud. Many people don’t realise that repeated exposure to loud music can cause permanent hearing damage.

In this article, we’ll explore how sound levels at concerts can affect long-term hearing, why hearing protection at festivals is more important than ever, and how venues can improve live music acoustics to deliver powerful yet safer experiences.

The impact of loud music on hearing health

How loud is a music concert?

Music concerts often reach noise levels of between 100 and 120 decibels. To put that into perspective, 100 decibels (dB) is similar to standing next to a running motorbike. A survey found that 78% of concertgoers don’t realise that live music noise levels can actually pose a risk to their hearing. Any noise above 85 decibels is considered unsafe, and exposure can lead to permanent hearing damage. At 85 dB, your safe exposure time is no more than 8 hours, whereas at 100 dB, this dramatically drops to just 15 minutes before potentially causing permanent damage without hearing protection.

Can loud music damage your hearing?

Yes, prolonged exposure to loud music can cause permanent hearing damage. Most people attend concerts without using hearing protection, often because they’re unaware of the risks. Our hearing is more fragile than we realise. Inside the ear are tiny hair-like cells called stereocilia, which are essential for how our ears process sound. Once damaged, these cells do not grow back, meaning any hearing loss is permanent.

Audiologist Dr Heather Malyuk explains the risks to your hearing health in an insightful Ted Talk.

Understanding tinnitus after music concerts

That ringing in your ears after a gig? It’s called a temporary threshold shift. But for many music lovers, it becomes permanent in the form of tinnitus or noise-induced hearing loss.

Just one night at a loud concert can have lasting effects on your hearing health. The ringing or high-pitched sound you sometimes notice afterwards, especially when everything else is quiet, is known as tinnitus. In some cases, it fades within a few days. For others, it becomes a constant background noise that never fully disappears.

According to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, tinnitus is on the rise. Nearly 60% of survey participants experienced tinnitus or temporary hearing loss after listening to loud music, with the majority underestimating the potential damage.

Turning down the volume to make it safe for those near the speakers can ruin the experience for people at the back of the venue. That’s why it’s vitally important for each individual to take responsibility for their own hearing protection.

How is sound measured?

Sound is measured in decibels (dB) which is a logarithmic scale. This means that every increase of 10 dB represents a tenfold increase in sound energy. For example, a noise measuring 70 dB has 10 times more sound energy than one at 60 dB, while 80 dB has 100 times more sound intensity than 60 dB.

However, the way we perceive sound volume is slightly different. The average human ear perceives a 10 dB increase as roughly twice as loud, although this can vary depending on individual hearing sensitivity and past exposure to loud noise.

When Does Sound Become Unsafe?

All noise above 85 dB is considered unsafe and comes with a ‘maximum exposure’ time, according to Tinnitus UK. At 85 dB, you can be exposed for up to 8 hours before permanent damage is likely to occur. As volume increases, safe exposure time drops dramatically, with no safe exposure at all for sounds above 130 dB. This level is similar to a jet taking off from 100 metres away. The graph below highlights common sources of noise and shows how long you can be safely exposed to each without hearing protection.

Noise-induced hearing loss is completely preventable if you understand the risks of loud music and use hearing protection.

Ear Protection Tip: Smartwatches and phones can be set to warn you when you’re exposed to sounds that are too loud.

Solutions for preventing hearing damage

How to protect your hearing at music festivals

You don’t need to sacrifice your experience to protect your ears. There are plenty of earplugs designed specifically for music lovers and festival-goers. Campaigns like #PlugEm by Tinnitus UK are helping to normalise hearing protection at festivals, encouraging fans to treat earplugs like sun cream, something you apply without thinking twice.

Once you try them, you’ll likely want a pair with you at every concert or gig. It’s often a shock to realise just how loud the music really is when you take them out mid-performance and rush to put them back in.

Acoustic treatment for live music venues

When the sound isn’t clear, turning up the volume feels like the only option. This is how poor acoustic design leads to uncomfortably loud environments.

Proper acoustic treatment in music venues, bars, and nightclubs consistently improves the user experience, creating a more comfortable and enjoyable space. Strategic acoustic treatment for live music settings includes installing high-performance acoustic panels, managing low-frequency build-up (bass), and improving spatial layout. These solutions help venues dramatically reduce reverberation and eliminate muddy echoes.

Acoustic solutions can create a more immersive and dynamic sound experience while reducing the risk to the audience’s hearing health.

Staying Safe at Glastonbury Festival

There’s no denying that Glastonbury is one of the most iconic music festivals in the world. It’s also one of the loudest. With over 200,000 attendees and dozens of stages, the cumulative sound pressure levels can easily exceed safe hearing limits for hours at a time and days on end.

Glastonbury has made significant strides in sustainability and audience welfare over the years, and the availability of reusable earplugs on-site is just the latest example. These earplugs contain internal filters that reduce harmful decibel peaks while preserving the clarity and richness of live music.

Whether you’re dancing in front of the Pyramid Stage or working behind the scenes, the same principle applies: loud shouldn’t mean dangerous.

Acoustic Solutions for Better Sound and Safer Experiences

We support the live music experience and the incredible joy it brings, but not at the cost of hearing health. By understanding sound levels at concerts, using hearing protection at festivals, and investing in quality acoustic treatment for live music venues, we can make live experiences better for everyone. Great quality sound should be comfortable, not harmful.

Interested in making your music venue or event safer while improving sound quality? Get in touch with the team at Koru Acoustics for a free acoustic consultation.

 

 

References

Marley, Steph. “Concertgoers Urged to Protect Ears as over Half Reveal Signs of Hearing Damage.” RNID, Aug 2024, rnid.org.uk/2024/08/concertgoers-urged-to-protect-ears-as-over-half-reveal-signs-of-hearing-damage/.

“How Loud Is Loud?” Tinnitus UK, Apr 2023, tinnitus.org.uk/understanding-tinnitus/protect-your-hearing/how-loud-is-loud/.

Tinnitus UK, tinnitus.org.uk/.

“Loop Earplugs Joins Glastonbury 2025 Bringing Hearing Wellness and Sensory Inclusion to the UK’s Most Iconic Festival.” Loop Earplugs, June 2025, www.loopearplugs.com/blogs/press-corner/loop-earplugs-joins-glastonbury-2025-bringing-hearing-wellness-and-sensory-inclusion-to-the-uk-s-most-iconic-festival.