Safety in Music Venues

This article provides a detailed review of two sources: the "WHO Global Standard for Safe Listening in Venues and Events" and the academic paper "Resonant Spaces: Listening to Space and Inhabiting Sound." The goal is to identify the main themes, key ideas, and significant facts from each source, establishing potential connections between them.

Source 1: WHO Global Standard for Safe Listening in Venues and Events

This standard by the World Health Organization (WHO) aims to provide a common framework for protecting the hearing of audiences attending music venues and events while preserving the quality of the artistic experience. It is directed at governments, venue owners and managers, event organizers, music creators, and civil society.

Key Themes and Ideas:

The problem of "unsafe listening": Defined as exposure to music or other audio content at high levels or for prolonged periods, posing a common risk to hearing.

"Unsafe listening" refers to the common practice of listening to music or other audio content at high levels or for extended periods.

Need for global standardization: Recognizing the lack of uniform policies and regulations regarding sound levels in venues and events worldwide, WHO created this evidence-based standard.

"Specific requirements vary by country; there is a lack of standardization globally. To address this gap, WHO has worked with stakeholders to develop a global standard with uniform recommendations based on evidence."

Six key features for safe listening: The standard proposes six interrelated features that venues and music events should implement:

• Sound level limit: A maximum of 100 dB LAeq, 15min evaluated at a reference position is recommended. This limit is based on WHO environmental noise guidelines for the European region.
  
  

"1st feature: Sound level limitation: A maximum of 100 dB LAeq for a 15-minute period is imposed, maintaining sound at a safe and enjoyable level for the audience."

• Sound level monitoring: Active monitoring and recording of sound levels using calibrated equipment by venue staff is required. Digital recording of sound pressure levels over time is recommended.
  
  

"Sound levels must be actively monitored to ensure compliance with the 100 dB LAeq, 15-minute limit."

• Acoustic conditioning and sound system design: The importance of adequate acoustics ("dry acoustic character") and well-designed sound systems to achieve optimal sound quality and facilitate sound level management is emphasized.
  
  

"A venue with excessive reverberation or other acoustic issues (such as prominent echoes or an unbalanced frequency response) makes it difficult for the sound engineer to achieve a clear and controlled mix. Sound pressure levels may gradually increase as the engineer strives to improve mix clarity."

• Availability of personal hearing protection: It is recommended to provide earplugs to attendees, preferably high-fidelity or "uniform attenuation" earplugs.
  
  

• Availability of quiet zones: Establishing "quiet zones" where sound levels are significantly lower, allowing the audience to rest their ears, is suggested.
  
  

"Quiet zone: An area in a venue or event where sound levels are intentionally kept lower, providing a place for attendees to rest their ears."

• Proper training and information: The need to train venue staff on safe listening and provide clear information to the public about noise risks and protection measures is emphasized.
  
  

"6th feature: Proper training and information."

Voluntary and regulatory implementation: The standard can be voluntarily adopted by venue operators or implemented by governments through laws and regulations. Collaboration among all stakeholders is crucial.

"This Standard serves as a framework for governments to develop their own guidelines, regulations, and funding models for safe listening, considering local conditions, culture, and legislative approaches while reflecting the views of local stakeholders."

Challenges for small venues: Complying with the sound pressure level limit can be particularly challenging for small live music venues where the main sound source (e.g., an acoustic drum kit) may inherently generate high levels. Governments are encouraged to consider these limitations when drafting regulations and to explore financial support for such venues.

"Complying with the sound pressure level limit may pose a significant challenge for some venues, especially small live music venues. Even with all reasonable measures taken, exceeding the sound level limit may be beyond the responsible party's control."

Technical definitions: A detailed glossary of relevant acoustic terms is provided, including "LAeq, 15min," "peak sound level," "reverberation," "A and C weighting," and more.

Source 2: Resonant Spaces: Listening to Space and Inhabiting Sound

This article explores the concept of space from various perspectives, including architecture, experimental music, sound art, and social sciences. It focuses on the idea of "resonant space," where sound not only propagates but also defines and reveals the characteristics of the space.

Key Themes and Ideas:

Transformation of the concept of space: The article describes how the notion of space has evolved from an abstract, geometric concept to a social, dynamic, and temporally variable one.

"The concept of space has undergone significant transformations over the last century, from theory to practice. In social sciences and humanities, space is no longer understood as something abstract and geometric but as a social space."

The "spatial turn": This intellectual movement integrated the spatiality of sound into social sciences and humanities, understanding space as both a context for social interactions and an active element shaping them.

"According to Eisenberg (2015), the spatiality of sound was not fully integrated into Western culture until the so-called 'spatial turn' occurred."

Space as flow: The article presents the idea that space, like sound, is dynamic and constantly transforming, forming a "spatial flow" where sound and space intertwine.

Sound space research methodologies: Various techniques used to study acoustic and sonic properties of spaces are described, including impulse response measurement (IR), reverberation time (T60), ambient sound recording, and sound space interventions.

Case studies of resonant spaces: The article analyzes the acoustic properties of unique spaces such as underground oil tanks (Inchindown, Lyness), gasometers, cooling towers, and air-raid shelters, highlighting their reverberation times and how sound interacts with their shapes and materials.

Connections and Reflections:

Both sources highlight the importance of sound and its relationship with space, though from different perspectives. The WHO standard focuses on managing and controlling sound in entertainment spaces to protect auditory health, while the academic article explores sound as a defining and revealing element of space from an artistic and phenomenological perspective.

Some key connections include:

• Acoustics of space: The WHO standard emphasizes the importance of acoustic conditioning for optimal sound quality and level management. The "Resonant Spaces" article explores the acoustic properties of various environments, such as reverberation time, and how these characteristics influence sound propagation and perception.
  
  

• Auditory experience: While the WHO standard seeks to ensure a "safe and enjoyable" auditory experience, the "Resonant Spaces" article examines how sound interacts with space to create unique auditory perceptions.
  
  

• Sound measurement: Both sources recognize the importance of objective sound measurement, though for different purposes: the WHO standard for hearing protection and the academic article for analyzing spatial sound properties.
  
  

In conclusion, understanding the acoustic properties of spaces, as discussed in the second document, can complement efforts to implement WHO recommendations. Good acoustics can contribute to achieving high-quality sound without excessive sound pressure levels, promoting both safe listening and a rich auditory experience.