The culture changed; now let's change it back!

Abstract

This paper considers the questions how, and when, did pop concerts get so loud, and when and how will concerts at less dangerous sound pressure levels become the norm? The analysis of several historical sources from the 1950s and 1960s provides some good pointers towards answering the first question. The second question is considered by a stock-take of present-day initiatives pointing at the need for cultural change to bring down the levels observed today. Show more