Mastering France automatically calibrates your master to the target platform and your musical genre. You don't need to worry about LUFS standards — the service handles it.
Why does each platform have different LUFS standards?
Streaming platforms normalise playback volume to prevent the loudest tracks from dominating playlists. If your track exceeds the target, the platform automatically turns down its volume. If you're below it, it sounds quieter than other tracks.
LUFS standards by platform in 2026
| Platform | Target integrated LUFS | Max True Peak | Normalisation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotify | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | Yes (reduces if > -14) |
| Apple Music | -16 LUFS | -1 dBTP | Yes (Sound Check) |
| YouTube | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | Yes (Content ID) |
| Tidal | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | Yes |
| SoundCloud | No standard | -1 dBTP | No |
| Dancefloor / Club | -9 to -10 LUFS | -1 dBTP | No |
Do you need a different master for each platform?
No — one well-made master works for all platforms. The rule: aim for -14 integrated LUFS with a True Peak max of -1 dBTP. Spotify, YouTube and Tidal will normalise to -14 LUFS. Apple Music will slightly reduce with Sound Check, but without perceptible quality loss.
The exception is club/dancefloor where PA systems don't normalise. For exclusively club use, a louder master (-9 to -10 LUFS) may be justified — but don't publish this file on Spotify, it will be turned down 4 to 5 dB.
What Mastering France does for each platform
Mastering France automatically calibrates loudness based on your genre and target. Hip-hop intended for streaming receives different treatment from afrobeats for Audiomack or an electronic set for the club.
- Streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube): -14 LUFS, True Peak < -1 dBTP
- Hip-hop / trap / afrobeats: -8 to -10 LUFS to compensate for normalisation
- Club / dancefloor: -9 to -10 LUFS, aggressive compression
- Broadcast / sync: -23 LUFS (EBU R128 standard)
Spotify Loud and the loudness war
Pushing your master to -6 LUFS won't give you more volume on Spotify — the platform will bring it back to -14 LUFS anyway, sacrificing dynamics. A well-constructed -14 LUFS master will always sound better than a crushed normalised master.
