Beach Music: A Volume Study

Last Saturday, I was attempting to read a novel. A simple pleasure. The sound of waves. The warmth of sun. And then, from approximately fifteen feet away, a Bluetooth speaker decided I needed to learn all the lyrics to something that can only be described as "aggressive."

I don't want to be that person. But I have become that person. So let me share what I've learned.

The Fundamental Principle

Here is the rule: If your neighbor can identify the song, it's too loud.

This is not about genre. I'm not saying your music is bad. (Though sometimes it is. But that's not the point.) I'm saying that your music, whatever it is, should be YOUR music. The moment it becomes EVERYONE'S music—imposed upon strangers who did not consent—you've crossed a line.

The Decibel Guidelines

I have, over the course of three summers, conducted informal sound studies at various Nantucket beaches. Here are my findings:

Ambient beach sounds: 55-65 dB
Waves, wind, distant conversations. The natural soundtrack. Perfect.

Acceptable personal music: 60-70 dB (at speaker location)
Audible to the listener. Possibly detectible to immediate neighbors as a murmur. Not identifiable beyond 8 feet.

Common violation level: 75-85 dB
This is what I hear most weekends. Clearly audible across a 20-foot radius. Forces adjacent beachgoers to either accept your playlist or relocate. Inconsiderate.

Hostile volume: 85+ dB
This is assault. This is a speaker turned to maximum, bass thumping, vocals clear across half the beach. I have witnessed this. The perpetrators seemed confused when asked to lower it. "We're just vibing," they said. No. You're broadcasting.

The "They Make Wireless Headphones" Principle

I don't understand why this is controversial. If you want to listen to music at the beach—wonderful. Headphones exist. Earbuds exist. They're affordable, they're lightweight, they're waterproof. They allow you to enjoy whatever you like at whatever volume you like without imposing on anyone.

I understand the desire for "shared experiences." If you're with a group, you might want everyone to hear the same thing. Fine. Keep it quiet enough that only YOUR group hears it. If strangers four towels over are nodding along, you've expanded your group without their consent.

Common Justifications (Debunked)

"We're on vacation!"
So is everyone else. Your vacation doesn't supersede theirs. The relaxation you seek through loud music is the same relaxation I seek through quiet reading. We can coexist only if you turn it down.

"The beach is loud anyway!"
The beach is not loud. The beach is ambient. Waves are not the same as your speaker. Wind is not the same as bass drops. There's a difference between natural sound and manufactured intrusion.

"Nobody's complained!"
We have, actually. You just haven't noticed because you can't hear us over your music. Also, many people are too polite to complain. Their silence is not consent.

"It's a public beach!"
Yes. Public. As in shared by the public. As in we all have equal rights to enjoy it. Your right to play music does not override my right to not hear it.

The Quality Question

I must address this delicately, but it must be addressed: not all music is created equal in the beach context.

Some music blends. Gentle acoustic songs, ambient sounds, soft jazz—these integrate with the beach environment. They enhance rather than dominate.

Other music... does not blend. Heavy bass, aggressive vocals, rapid tempo—these fight the ocean for attention. They create cognitive dissonance. They turn a peaceful beach into a loud venue.

I'm not saying don't listen to aggressive music. I'm saying perhaps consider the setting when choosing to broadcast it.

My Position

I've been told I'm "too uptight" about this. Perhaps. But consider: I come to the beach specifically to escape noise. The modern world is full of sounds I didn't choose—car horns, commercials, notification pings, construction. The beach is supposed to be different. The beach is supposed to be waves, wind, and silence.

When you bring a Bluetooth speaker and play it loudly, you're importing the modern world into the last quiet space. You're saying your entertainment matters more than everyone else's peace. You're taking something public and making it yours.

I'm sure you didn't MEAN to. But the effect is the same.

A Compromise

I'm not asking for total silence. I'm asking for consideration. Keep it at a level where I can't identify the song. Keep it below the ambient beach sounds. Keep it to your group.

If you're uncertain whether you've crossed the line, turn it down. You can always turn it back up if nobody's around. But once you've annoyed your neighbors, that relationship is damaged for the day.

The beach is better when we're all considerate. I promise you: your music sounds just as good at half volume. And the rest of us can go back to our novels.