FNLZ Studio Blog · LUFS · 2026-04-15 · 5 min read

What Is LUFS, and Why It Matters for Streaming

LUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale) is the unit modern streaming platforms use to measure perceived loudness. Understanding it is the difference between a release that sits proudly in a playlist and one that sounds quieter than the track before it.

Streaming Platform Targets (2026)

• Spotify: ~-14 LUFS integrated, -1 dBTP
• Apple Music: ~-16 LUFS integrated, -1 dBTP
• Tidal: ~-14 LUFS integrated, -1 dBTP
• YouTube: ~-14 LUFS integrated

Why True-Peak Matters

When platforms transcode your WAV to a lossy format, inter-sample peaks can exceed 0 dBFS and cause distortion. A -1 dBTP ceiling protects your release across every codec.