Loudness Penalty
Definition
The amount of volume reduction a streaming platform applies to a track that exceeds its loudness normalization target. A track mastered at -8 LUFS for a platform targeting -14 LUFS receives a 6 dB loudness penalty — the platform turns it down by 6 dB, which can reduce perceived punch, presence, and dynamic impact.
In Simple Terms
When your track is louder than a streaming platform's target, they turn it down — and that turning down can make your loud master sound worse than a more dynamic one. A track crushed to -8 LUFS gets pulled down 6 dB on Spotify, losing all the punch you worked to create.
In Practice
Two masters of the same song — one at -14 LUFS (dynamic) and one at -8 LUFS (loud) — play back at identical volume on Spotify after normalization. The dynamic version retains its transient impact and clarity; the loud version sounds flat and squashed because its dynamics were sacrificed for loudness that the platform then removed.