Short answer?
No. Turn off the “Loudness Normalization” setting and check your favourite artists yourself. I would wager they didn’t bother.
The idea that you need a special “Spotify Master” or “Streaming Master” has become one of the most misunderstood buzz concepts in modern audio production.
In most cases, creating a separate master specifically for streaming platforms is unnecessary — and sometimes even harmful to the long-term quality of your music.
Let’s break down why.
Streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube use loudness normalisation.
That means they automatically adjust playback volume so songs sit around a target loudness level (often around -14 LUFS for Spotify).
This led to a wave of advice that went something like:
“Master your track to -14 LUFS so it doesn’t get turned down.”
On the surface, that sounds logical.
In practice, it misunderstands how normalisation actually works.
Streaming services generally:
They do not:
The file itself remains the same.
It’s simply played back louder or quieter.
Spotify explains their loudness normalisation policy clearly here:
Spotify: Loudness Normalization
The important distinction is this:
They adjust playback level — not the master itself.
If you master your track intentionally quieter in order to “match Spotify,” you may be sacrificing:
And here’s the key:
Spotify may turn your track up anyway if it’s below their target — but only within headroom limits.
If your master lacks density or emotional movement because it was artificially constrained to hit a number, that limitation remains permanent across all platforms.
Your music will exist:
Mastering decisions should prioritise longevity — not one playback algorithm.
The purpose of professional mastering is not to:
The real goal is:
A well-mastered track should sound strong at multiple playback levels.
If your master feels powerful and balanced at -9 LUFS, -11 LUFS, or -13 LUFS — that’s fine.
Streaming platforms will adjust playback level either way.
There are rare cases where alternate masters are useful:
But a “Spotify-only master” created solely to hit a playback number?
That’s usually unnecessary.
In fact, many experienced mastering engineers agree that chasing platform targets can do more harm than good.
For a deeper explanation of how loudness normalisation works in practice, iZotope breaks it down clearly:
iZotope: Mastering for Streaming Platforms
Streaming standards change.
Playback systems evolve.
Normalisation targets shift.
If you master your music based on a temporary algorithm trend, you risk compromising the integrity of your work for something that may not even apply in five years.
Great records from 20, 30, even 50 years ago still translate beautifully.
They weren’t mastered for Spotify.
They were mastered for musical impact.
You don’t need a “Spotify Master.”
You need a strong master.
One that:
Streaming platforms adjust playback volume. They don’t redesign your music.
At Moreish Studios, we master for longevity, translation, and artistic integrity — not temporary buzz terms.
If you’re unsure whether your track needs multiple masters or just a well-executed one, that conversation alone can protect the long-term quality of your music.
Learn more about our Mastering and Mixing services, or get in touch to discuss the best mastering approach for your release.
