Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer readable media for managing bandwidth based on audio power level. In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving a media stream from a first client device, wherein the media stream includes an audio stream. During receipt of the media stream, the method provides determining whether an audio power level of the audio stream satisfies criteria for inclusion in an output media stream from the media server system along with one or more media streams received from one or more other client devices. Upon determining that the criteria is not satisfied, the method provides transferring a first notification to the first client device that includes a first instruction for the first client device to reduce an amount of bandwidth used for transferring the media stream.