Key takeaways
- K-Pop scored highest overall for hearing fatigue (8.10/10), while country recorded the lowest score (5.40/10).
- Disco ranked second (7.95/10), spending almost 47.5 seconds at high RMS levels on average, one of the longest sustained periods of intense audio in the sample.
- It's not simply the genre that matters; it's how the music is produced: loudness, dynamic range, sustained intensity and frequency balance.
- Hearing fatigue is the temporary mental and physical strain that occurs when your ears and brain work harder to process loud or acoustically complex sounds.
- Listening time matters as much as volume: around 80 dB is safe for roughly 40 hours per week, dropping to around 20 minutes per week at 100 dB.
New analysis from Alpine Hearing Protection reveals that the answer may surprise you.
From chart-topping pop anthems and rock comebacks to the continued global rise of K-Pop, 2026 has been another remarkable year for music. With artists like Olivia Rodrigo, PRESIDENT and Ella Langley dominating playlists, millions of people are spending more time than ever listening through headphones, at concerts and festivals, or on the go.
But while we often think about what we're listening to, we rarely stop to consider how the music itself might affect our hearing.
At Alpine Hearing Protection, we're passionate about helping people enjoy music safely for life. That's why we analyzed 10 of the most popular tracks across ten major music genres to explore which styles of music are most likely to contribute to hearing fatigue over time.
The results challenge some common assumptions.
What is hearing fatigue?
Hearing fatigue is the temporary mental and physical strain that occurs when your ears and brain have to work harder to process loud or acoustically complex sounds over an extended period.
After long listening sessions, you may notice:
- Sounds seem muffled or less clear
- Conversations become harder to follow
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- A feeling of pressure or fullness in the ears
While these symptoms are often temporary, repeated exposure to loud sounds can increase the risk of permanent hearing damage.
Our findings
By analyzing audio characteristics including perceived loudness (LUFS), sustained high RMS levels, dynamic range and frequency balance, we calculated a hearing fatigue score for each genre.
| Rank | Genre | Hearing Fatigue Score (/10) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | K-Pop | 8.10 |
| 2 | Disco | 7.95 |
| 3 | Metal | 7.95 |
| 4 | EDM | 7.76 |
| 5 | Rock | 7.67 |
| 6 | Hip-Hop/Rap | 6.88 |
| 7 | Pop | 6.64 |
| 8 | R&B | 6.19 |
| 9 | Reggae | 5.49 |
| 10 | Country | 5.40 |
Based on analysis of 10 popular tracks from each genre.
K-Pop tops the list
Our analysis found that K-Pop scored the highest overall for hearing fatigue (8.10/10).
The genre combined:
- The highest average treble-to-bass ratio of any genre analyzed
- Sustained periods of high audio intensity
- Bright, detailed production that places greater demand on the auditory system during extended listening sessions
This doesn't mean K-Pop is "dangerous" to listen to. Rather, its production style may require more effort from our hearing when listened to for long periods, particularly at high volumes.
Why disco ranked above rock
One of the biggest surprises was seeing disco rank second.
Despite being perceived as a relatively "easy listening" genre, disco tracks spent almost 47.5 seconds at high RMS levels on average, one of the longest sustained periods of intense audio across the genres studied.
That means listeners experience fewer opportunities for their ears to recover between louder passages, increasing the potential for hearing fatigue.
Metal isn't number one, and here's why
Many people would expect metal to top the rankings.
Instead, it came third.
Although metal has an intense sound, the genre actually spent significantly less time at high RMS levels than disco or EDM in our sample. However, its compressed dynamic range and prominent high frequencies still resulted in a high overall fatigue score.
The findings reinforce an important point:
It's not simply the genre that matters; it's how the music is produced.
Loudness, dynamic range, sustained intensity and frequency balance all influence how demanding music is on our ears.
Country came out lowest
At the other end of the rankings, country music recorded the lowest hearing fatigue score.
The tracks analyzed generally featured:
- Lower sustained loudness
- Less aggressive frequency balance
- Shorter periods at high RMS levels
While no music is completely risk-free at excessive volumes, country offered a comparatively less demanding listening experience within our sample.
Why safe listening matters
According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion young people are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening habits.
Listening time matters just as much as listening volume.
As a general guide:
- Around 80 dB can be listened to safely for approximately 40 hours per week
- At 90 dB, this falls to around 4 hours per week
- At 100 dB, safe exposure drops dramatically to around 20 minutes per week
Whether you're listening through headphones, attending live events or enjoying your favorite playlist, small habits can make a significant difference over time.
Protecting your hearing doesn't mean enjoying music less
"Hearing fatigue isn't something most people think about until they notice symptoms like muffled hearing or ringing in the ears after a gig or a long listening session. While these effects are often temporary, repeatedly exposing your ears to loud music without allowing adequate recovery time can increase the risk of long-term hearing damage.
What's particularly interesting about our findings is that genres people often assume would be most demanding, such as rock or metal, aren't necessarily those with the highest hearing fatigue scores. The way music is produced, including its loudness, dynamic range and frequency balance, has a significant influence on how hard our hearing has to work.
You don't need to stop enjoying the music you love. Simple habits such as taking regular listening breaks, managing your volume and wearing high-fidelity earplugs at concerts can help protect your hearing for years to come."
Arthur van Keeken, CEO, Alpine Hearing Protection
Enjoy every note. Protect every ear.
At Alpine Hearing Protection, we believe hearing protection shouldn't come at the expense of music quality. Whether you're at a festival, concert, nightclub or simply listening through headphones, protecting your hearing today helps ensure you can keep enjoying the music you love tomorrow.
Methodology: We analyzed a sample of 10 popular tracks from each genre using audio production metrics including integrated loudness (LUFS), sustained high RMS duration, dynamic range and treble-to-bass ratio to calculate a comparative hearing fatigue score. The analysis provides an indication of relative listening demand and should not be interpreted as a measure of hearing damage risk from individual songs.
