Sound & Well: Exploring the Connection Between Music and Health

Listening to music and playing guitar are important aspects of my wellness routine. And I know I’m not alone. When it comes to shared music experiences (such as live shows or playing music with others), studies show that music has a range of potential wellness benefits including improving mood, cognitive function, and social connection. 

As someone who worked in the live music industry and played loud music with others for years, it’s always been important to me to protect my hearing. When I worked at music venues like The Viper Room and The Roxy in Los Angeles, I’d always have a pair of soft earplugs in my pocket ready for use. However at times, I have seen others feel uncomfortable wearing earplugs due to social stigma. I never hesitated to encourage friends and customers to protect their hearing — often I’d carry a few extra sets of earplugs on me to give to others.

I recently heard about the collaboration between Loop and Tomorrowland (a music festival in Belgium) working to shift attitudes, educate consumers, and remove the stigma around hearing protection. Loop’s limited-edition collaboration with Tomorrowland aims to spread a message to live music lovers worldwide: protecting your hearing doesn’t mean compromising on sound quality. It also doesn’t have to mean giving up on comfort or fashion. 

The team at Loop shared with me that 1.1 billion young people are at risk of hearing loss due to exposure to unhealthy volume levels (according to the World Health Organization). And that in the US alone, 3 in 5 people experience ringing ears after going out – and the majority think that’s normal.

I’m always in favor of protecting your hearing in whatever way is most accessible and comfortable for you –  whether that means a cheap pair of disposable earplugs or a beautiful stylistic pair of high earplugs like the high quality ones Loop offers. 

Loop’s earplugs provide 17 dB of coverage and the set is designed with flat attenuation – meaning equal volume protection across the audible sound spectrum without impacting sound quality. With the new collaboration, the classic Loop Experience earplug design pops with dreamlike Tomorrowland colors – Black and Purple. The packaging also features Tomorrowland’s signature festival logo.

“Loop and Tomorrowland are a powerful combination,” says Loop co-founder Maarten Bodewes, “because they bring the world of festival life and the world of design-led wellness into the same conversation.”

Loop x Tomorrowland sets are  available for purchase at $39.95 online at loopearplugs.com and will be available onsite at the Loop Earplugs booth at Tomorrowland Festival in Boom, Belgium. 

Loop says all of their products are tested extensively according to standard guidelines and practices and shares that their earplugs are officially certified for hearing protection in line with European law covering personal hearing protection devices and personal protective equipment (PPE). 

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A University of Michigan graduate, Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning writer/editor. Her work has appeared in publications including Beauty Launchpad, Nailpro, DAYSPA, CNET, Entertainment Tonight, and more. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA, and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @zillizy, @zillizy16