A new study from AI mixing and mastering platform RoEx has highlighted widespread issues in the quality of mixed and mastered tracks from independent musicians. The research, which is based on an analysis of 200,000 songs submitted to RoEx’s Mix Check Studio, shows that an astonishing eight in ten mastered tracks exceeded Spotify’s recommended loudness levels, while clipping - a signal overload that causes distortion - was identified in 57% of tracks, most commonly in electronic genres like drum 'n bass and house music.

Co-authored with Queen Mary University and presented by RoEx CEO David Ronan at the Audio Engineering Society Show this week, the study highlights the challenges amateur musicians and producers face in the final stages of polishing up their tracks for release. Excessive loudness levels and clipping topped the list of common problems, showing that many songs will likely be automatically adjusted by streaming platforms’ loudness normalization before being released, potentially losing their intended sonic impact when played on platforms like Spotify or Apple Music.”

— Music Radar