Silencing the Stigma on Hearing Protection: Loop Earplugs x Tomorrowland

By:Damien Cabral

Silencing the Stigma on Hearing Protection: Loop Earplugs x Tomorrowland

Who doesn't love getting lost in the music and vibes at a festival or night out? However, waking up to that annoying ringing sound (aka Tinnitus) as an encore in our ears is something that nobody looks forward to. Yet shockingly, almost half of Belgians experience ringing in their ears after a night out or a festival weekend. Even more surprisingly, 45% consider it a regular part of the experience and nothing to worry about!

Audiologist and hearing expert Karen Stalpaert provided valuable insight on the matter:

"On a physiological level, people are aroused by loud music. It is also said to have the power to create a sense of belonging in a large group. However, this is not without risk, first of hearing damage. Not to mention that the music experience after hearing damage is never the same as before. So, do you want to keep hearing and experiencing music as the artist intended it? Then protecting your hearing is a must."

Highlighting the Importance of Hearing Protection

With the upcoming party and festival season just around the corner, it's important to stay aware of the potential risks of attending loud events without proper hearing protection. Unfortunately, our latest survey highlighted some alarming statistics, revealing that only 7% of Belgians always wear earplugs while attending events. What was more concerning was that 52% of people questioned didn’t know where to purchase high-quality earplugs. In comparison, 63% of respondents had no idea of the effectiveness of earplugs while attending events!

The good news is that the stigma of wearing earplugs is slowly fading away, but some misconceptions still need to be addressed. According to our study, 60% of young adults between the ages of 15 and 25 believe that wearing earplugs negatively affects their music experience, while 45% of Belgians describe them as unattractive and uncool. However, 39% of respondents would be more likely to wear earplugs if sold by a "cool" brand. That's where we come in!

Breaking the Stigma of Hearing Protection

Loop is changing the narrative around earplugs by teaming up again with Tomorrowland Festival to take on the exciting challenge of educating people about the benefits of top-notch earplugs and breaking the stigma that earplugs are uncool! With a Loop booth at Dreamville and a special edition Loop x Tomorrowland Experience earplugs, they're ready to prove that you can have an incredible festival and music experience while keeping your hearing safe.

As Loop Earplugs and Tomorrowland collaborate for the second year in a row to promote safe hearing practices at music festivals, Dimitri O, our co-founder, shares his thoughts on the importance of breaking the stigma around wearing hearing protection:

"This collaboration with Tomorrowland brings us another step closer to breaking the taboo about wearing hearing protection. Wearing Loops should become as normal as wearing sunglasses. We want to prove to the People of Tomorrow that wearing Loops is no barrier to enjoying life and music to the full."

Magic, Style & Innovation in an Earplug

Not only do the Loop x Tomorrowland Experience earplugs offer unmatched style, with the theme of Adscendo capturing the magic and wonder of Tomorrowland, but Loop Earplugs' innovative technology ensures that sound waves are filtered and attenuated equally to 18dB, allowing you to experience music and sound at a safe level without compromising quality. With these earplugs, you'll be able to fully immerse yourself in the music without worrying about damaging your hearing.

The partnership is part of Love Tomorrow, Tomorrowland’s platform dedicated to sustainability, health and environment at the festival and far beyond. The organisation works closely with Loop Earplugs to raise awareness about hearing damage to raise awareness about hearing damage. As we mentioned earlier, almost half of Belgians experience ringing in their ears after a night out, and a worrying 45% believe it's normal. However, audiologist Karen Stalpaert urges caution:

"Although it’s a common experience, tinnitus is not a normal or harmless phenomenon. Tinnitus is a sign of overloading your ear, and your hearing is temporarily impaired. Your body will do everything it can to repair this damage. This usually succeeds, but the damage increases in case of frequent exposure to loud noise levels, causing permanent damage over time."

That’s why Loop and Tomorrowland are on a mission to change the game and create a new norm about hearing protection. Last year's 'People of Tomorrow' campaign was a massive success, reaching countless music lovers who value high-quality sound and prioritize their long-term hearing health. Our other Loop co-founder Maarten Bodewes couldn't be more thrilled:

"We reached an audience who, like Dimitri and I, live for music, who don't want to compromise on sound quality but want to avoid ringing in their ears the next day (and long after that)."