[cromon]

This is something I have battled with for a long time, personally I master to make the music sound good, sometimes that is loud (new dance music) sometimes not so much (old African recordings remasters).

Coupled with the data from this page [1] there is no point in going too loud anyways, that's why you have gain / volume control. I'm not sure how I feel about streaming services implementing extra processing tbh. Spotify is the worst culprit adding limiting which can significantly change the sound of a recording.

I just wish other engineers would have more pragmatism in this industry, way too much overcooked and distorted music around.

[1] http://productionadvice.co.uk/online-loudness/