Loud music

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Music that is played at an extremely high volume can be annoying to others, is considered by many to be disrespectful, and can sometimes be unlawful. Sound level at outdoor concert.jpg
Music that is played at an extremely high volume can be annoying to others, is considered by many to be disrespectful, and can sometimes be unlawful.

Loud music [1] is music that is played at a high volume, often to the point where it disturbs others and causes hearing damage. It may include music that is sung live, played with musical instruments, or with electronic media, such as Radio broadcasting, CD, MP3 players or even on phones and streaming services etc.

Contents

Playing loud music that can be heard from outside of the property from where it is being played is considered rude by many societies. Among those opposed to the practice, it may result in the loss of respect and legal action under the nuisance ordinance. In certain contained settings, such as nightclubs or concerts, music is often played very loudly, but is viewed as acceptable.

Overview

Criminal and civil

Disturbing the peace by playing loud music in the night is a criminal offense, typically a misdemeanor. [2] The exact definition of what constitutes a loud music violation varies by location, either at a certain volume (measured in decibels) or the distance from the source at which the music can be heard. The time of day is also often a factor in the law, with the restrictions in some places applying only to specified nighttime hours (e.g. 11 PM-7 AM). The amount of effort put forth by law enforcement members to deal with loud music also varies by location.

The most common punishment for a conviction is a fine or some other small sanction. But on rare occasions, loud music may be grounds for imprisonment. In May 2008, a United Kingdom woman was sentenced to 90 days in jail for violating a court order not to play music that disturbed her neighbours eleven times. [3]

Police have also at times discovered other crimes, such as illegal drug usage, when investigating loud music complaints. [4]

Since mass transit agencies are frequently government-operated and/or subsidized, these rules can be legally enforced, and violations may result in prosecution.

In 2014, software engineer Michael Dunn was convicted of first-degree murder after fatally shooting 17-year-old Jordan Davis in an altercation over the loud music Davis was playing. [5]

Yellow paint on a piece of film wrap over a bass speaker playing very loud music. Just yellow paint (12645841144).jpg
Yellow paint on a piece of film wrap over a bass speaker playing very loud music.

In many settings, loud music is not tolerated by property owners, and may be grounds for certain civil actions, such as eviction from rented property.

Property owners at locations where patrons temporarily visit, such as hotels, campgrounds, or businesses, may order those who play loud music to leave the property.

David Grissom declared that “loud music is a forty-dollar fine,” the lead single from the 2008 album Loud Music, specifically citing experiences in municipalities such as Tulsa, Oklahoma, Amarillo, Texas and San Francisco, California.

Health

Continual exposure to loud music may result in hearing loss. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed a set of recommendations aimed at protecting the hearing health of musicians and those who work in music and entertainment venues. [6] Depending on the music sound levels and duration of exposure, as well as hearing protection used if any, the risk of hearing damage can vary significantly. [7] Music played at 85 decibels, or level of sounds, for prolonged periods of times can cause hearing damage, for instance, sound levels at some rock concerts can reach 110-120 A-weighted decibels, and at those levels, the maximum daily limit set by most standards and regulations can be reached in less than one minute of exposure. [8] [9]

Continual exposure to loud music can also lead to tinnitus. [10]

It is predicted that exposure to loud music will cause as many as 50 million Americans to suffer hearing loss by 2050. [11]

Heavy drinking

A study conducted by French scientists have shown that loud music leads to more alcohol consumption in less time. Over three consecutive Saturday evenings researchers observed customers of two bars situated in a medium-sized city in the west of France. Participants included forty males aged between 18 and 25, who were unaware that they were subjects of research. The study featured only those who ordered a glass of draft beer (25 cl. or 8 oz.). The lead researcher, Nicolas Guéguen, said that each year more than 70,000 people in France die from an increased level of alcohol consumption, which can also leads to fatal car accidents. [12]

Lethal disputes

Loud music has in some instances provoked lethal responses. In 2023, a Bronx woman allegedly stabbed her neighbor over the loud music that was disturbing her. [13]

In 2024, a man in Atlanta who had shot and killed his roommate over loud music was found guilty of the killing which had occurred in November 2022. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noise</span> Unwanted sound

Noise is sound, chiefly unwanted, unintentional, or harmful sound considered unpleasant, loud, or disruptive to mental or hearing faculties. From a physics standpoint, there is no distinction between noise and desired sound, as both are vibrations through a medium, such as air or water. The difference arises when the brain receives and perceives a sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noise pollution</span> Excessive, displeasing environmental noise

Noise pollution, or sound pollution, is the propagation of noise or sound with ranging impacts on the activity of human or animal life, most of which are harmful to a degree. The source of outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused by machines, transport and propagation systems. Poor urban planning may give rise to noise disintegration or pollution, side-by-side industrial and residential buildings can result in noise pollution in the residential areas. Some of the main sources of noise in residential areas include loud music, transportation, lawn care maintenance, construction, electrical generators, wind turbines, explosions and people.

Tinnitus is a variety of sound that is heard when no corresponding external sound is present. Nearly everyone experiences faint "normal tinnitus" in a completely quiet room; but it is of concern only if it is bothersome, interferes with normal hearing, or is associated with other problems. The word tinnitus comes from the Latin tinnire, "to ring". In some people, it interferes with concentration, and can be associated with anxiety and depression.

Occupational noise is the amount of acoustic energy received by an employee's auditory system when they are working in the industry. Occupational noise, or industrial noise, is often a term used in occupational safety and health, as sustained exposure can cause permanent hearing damage. Occupational noise is considered an occupational hazard traditionally linked to loud industries such as ship-building, mining, railroad work, welding, and construction, but can be present in any workplace where hazardous noise is present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earplug</span> Device to protect ears from loud noises

An earplug is a device that is inserted in the ear canal to protect the user's ears from loud noises, intrusion of water, foreign bodies, dust or excessive wind. Since they reduce the sound volume, earplugs may prevent hearing loss and tinnitus, in some cases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earmuffs</span> Ear-protecting headgear worn over ears to protect from cold or loud noise

Earmuffs refer to two different items. Both items consist of a thermoplastic or metal head-band that fits over the top or back of the head, and a cushion or cup at each end to usually cover both ears. The cups can either be clothing accessories designed to cover a person's ears for warmth or personal protective equipment designed to cover a person's ears for hearing protection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sensorineural hearing loss</span> Hearing loss caused by an inner ear or vestibulocochlear nerve defect

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a type of hearing loss in which the root cause lies in the inner ear, sensory organ, or the vestibulocochlear nerve. SNHL accounts for about 90% of reported hearing loss. SNHL is usually permanent and can be mild, moderate, severe, profound, or total. Various other descriptors can be used depending on the shape of the audiogram, such as high frequency, low frequency, U-shaped, notched, peaked, or flat.

Hyperacusis is an increased sensitivity to sound and a low tolerance for environmental noise. Definitions of hyperacusis can vary significantly; it often revolves around damage to or dysfunction of the stapes bone, stapedius muscle or tensor tympani (eardrum). It is often categorized into four subtypes: loudness, pain, annoyance, and fear. It can be a highly debilitating hearing disorder.

In acoustics, noise measurement can be for the purpose of measuring environmental noise or measuring noise in the workplace. Applications include monitoring of construction sites, aircraft noise, road traffic noise, entertainment venues and neighborhood noise. One of the definitions of noise covers all "unwanted sounds". When sound levels reach a high enough intensity, the sound, whether it is wanted or unwanted, may be damaging to hearing. Environmental noise monitoring is the measurement of noise in an outdoor environment caused by transport, industry and recreational activities. The laws and limits governing environmental noise monitoring differ from country to country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sound level meter</span> Device for acoustic measurements

A sound level meter is used for acoustic measurements. It is commonly a hand-held instrument with a microphone. The best type of microphone for sound level meters is the condenser microphone, which combines precision with stability and reliability. The diaphragm of the microphone responds to changes in air pressure caused by sound waves. That is why the instrument is sometimes referred to as a sound pressure level meter (SPL). This movement of the diaphragm, i.e. the sound pressure, is converted into an electrical signal. While describing sound in terms of sound pressure, a logarithmic conversion is usually applied and the sound pressure level is stated instead, in decibels (dB), with 0 dB SPL equal to 20 micropascals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health effects from noise</span> Health consequences of exposure to elevated sound levels

Noise health effects are the physical and psychological health consequences of regular exposure to consistent elevated sound levels. Noise from traffic, in particular, is considered by the World Health Organization to be one of the worst environmental stressors for humans, second only to air pollution. Elevated workplace or environmental noise can cause hearing impairment, tinnitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, annoyance, and sleep disturbance. Changes in the immune system and birth defects have been also attributed to noise exposure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noise-induced hearing loss</span> Medical condition

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a hearing impairment resulting from exposure to loud sound. People may have a loss of perception of a narrow range of frequencies or impaired perception of sound including sensitivity to sound or ringing in the ears. When exposure to hazards such as noise occur at work and is associated with hearing loss, it is referred to as occupational hearing loss.

Don't Lose the Music is a national campaign launched by the RNID, the charity representing the 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hearing conservation program</span>

Hearing conservation programs are designed to prevent hearing loss due to noise. Hearing conservation programs require knowledge about risk factors such as noise and ototoxicity, hearing, hearing loss, protective measures to prevent hearing loss at home, in school, at work, in the military and, and at social/recreational events, and legislative requirements. Regarding occupational exposures to noise, a hearing conservation program is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) "whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels (dB) measured on the A scale or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent." This 8-hour time-weighted average is known as an exposure action value. While the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) also requires a hearing conservation program, MSHA does not require a written hearing conservation program. MSHA's hearing conservation program requirement can be found in 30 CFR § 62.150, and is very similar to the OSHA hearing conservation program requirements. Therefore, only the OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.95 will be discussed in detail.

Tinnitus maskers are a range of devices based on simple white noise machines used to add natural or artificial sound into a tinnitus sufferer's environment in order to mask or cover up the ringing. The noise is supplied by a sound generator, which may reside in or above the ear or be placed on a table or elsewhere in the environment. The noise is usually white noise or music, but in some cases, it may be patterned sound or specially tailored sound based on the characteristics of the person's tinnitus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NIOSH Power Tools Database</span>

The NIOSH Power Tools Database contains sound power levels, sound pressure levels, and vibrations data for a variety of common power tools that have been tested by researchers. Data are collected for both the unloaded and loaded use of power tools. The database was created by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupational hearing loss</span> Form of hearing loss

Occupational hearing loss (OHL) is hearing loss that occurs as a result of occupational hazards, such as excessive noise and ototoxic chemicals. Noise is a common workplace hazard, and recognized as the risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus but it is not the only risk factor that can result in a work-related hearing loss. Also, noise-induced hearing loss can result from exposures that are not restricted to the occupational setting.

Acoustic trauma is the sustainment of an injury to the eardrum as a result of a very loud noise. Its scope usually covers loud noises with a short duration, such as an explosion, gunshot or a burst of loud shouting. Quieter sounds that are concentrated in a narrow frequency may also cause damage to specific frequency receptors. The range of severity can vary from pain to hearing loss.

Causes of hearing loss include ageing, genetics, perinatal problems, loud sounds, and diseases. For some kinds of hearing loss the cause may be classified as of unknown cause.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safe listening</span> Avoiding hearing damage from intentionally heard sounds

Safe listening is a framework for health promotion actions to ensure that sound-related recreational activities do not pose a risk to hearing.

References

  1. ↑ Reed, Kai (26 June 2015). "Police: MTA bus driver killed after dispute at neighbor's home". WBAL-TV.
  2. ↑ Disturbing the peace loud music Retrieved 12 March 2022
  3. ↑ "wayodd.com". Archived from the original on May 29, 2008.
  4. ↑ Staff report. "Loud music leads to drug arrests". ECP.
  5. ↑ "'I Was the Victim,' Says Loud Music Trial Shooter". ABC News.
  6. ↑ NIOSH (June 2015). "Reducing the Risk of Hearing Disorders among Musicians" (PDF). Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  7. ↑ NIOSH (July 7, 2015). "Turn it Down: Reducing the Risk of Hearing Disorders Among Musicians" . Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  8. ↑ NIOSH (1998). "Criteria for Recommended Exposure - Occupational Noise Exposure" (PDF). Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  9. ↑ the auroran sunset, updated Xavier. "loud music and hearing damage - abelard". abelard.org.
  10. ↑ "MSN Health India - Health Tips, Diet, Exercises and Symptoms". msn.com.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. ↑ Aging Nation Faces Growing Hearing Loss, Aging U.S. Population Faces a Looming Crisis in Hearing Loss, Researchers Say - CBS News Archived November 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ Guéguen, Nicolas; Jacob, Céline; Le Guellec, Hélène; Morineau, Thierry; Lourel, Marcel (2008). "Sound level of environmental music and drinking behavior: a field experiment with beer drinkers" (PDF). Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 32 (10). Research Society on Alcoholism (published 2008-07-21): 1795–1798. doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.2008.00764.x. PMID   18647281. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-29. It will be interesting to encourage the owners of bars to display music with a moderate level in order to struggle against alcohol consumption.
  13. ↑ https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/nyc-woman-stabs-neighbor-to-death-over-loud-music-charged-with-murder-police/ar-AA193oEa [ bare URL ]
  14. ↑ "Atlanta man found guilty of killing man for interrupting sleep at Decatur rooming house". 14 June 2024.
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