Canberra Loudest Man Breaks World Record

What's happened

Canberra town crier Joseph McGrail-Bateup has set a new Guinness World Record for the loudest shout by an individual, delivering "now" at 122.4 decibels. He says the feat was a day-of event, not a training target, and he remains the world’s loudest man.

What's behind the headline?

Context and implications

The piece documents a niche world record, reflecting a broader public interest in extreme human feats.
The update consolidates records across genders, noting Flanagan remains the loudest woman, while McGrail-Bateup holds the title for the loudest man.
This event highlights the role of official town criers and the ceremonial, entertainment-driven side of public life in Canberra.

What’s new

Guinness World Records has officially acknowledged the new record for an individual shout at 122.4 dB, surpassing the previous 121.7 dB.
The event is framed as a one-day achievement rather than a trained skill, emphasizing spontaneity over practice.

How we got here

Mr. McGrail-Bateup, 58, became Canberra’s official town crier in 2017 and joined the Ancient and Honorable Guild of Australian Town Criers. He previously won a 2024 guild competition with the loudest “Oyez, Oyez, Oyez” at 98 dB. The record was measured in a Canberra radio studio on 2 May and confirmed by Guinness World Records.

Our analysis

Independent (Rod McGuirk); AP News; additional corroboration from publisher notes.

Go deeper

What words did the new record-holder settle on and why?
Will this affect future town criers’ training or recruitment in Canberra?
How does this compare to other loudness records for groups or devices?