Originally Posted by Zack

The poll needs some in between options.

No, music in the classical/art tradition is not as "relevant" to contemporary audiences as pop, rock, edm, dub, folk, metal, etc.

If you ask the average Joe what dubstep is, they say "Wub wub wub." If you ask them about Rock, the list their five favourite bands. If you ask them about "classical," they A. think that only means Bach and Mozart, and that nothing has happened since, and B. don't listen to it.

Usually, when I DO find someone who likes classical, they either mean Howards Shore and Hans Zimmer (Close, but musicologically it's really pop) or they mean bach chorals and Moonlight Sonata.

Anything aside from big-name period composers is relegated to those who really love to explore music. But then, the same is true of art-oriented music in all genres. Everyone knows Metallica, but how many people listen to Maudlin of the Well or Katafalque? Sure, Kanye's big, but Aesop Rock (still big) has a much more niche following. Miles Davis is a household name, but can we say the same of Angelica Sanchez?

So, no, "classical" music is not relevant like J Beebs, but yes, it is relevant like any other form of music that benefits from more active listening, and which sometimes requires acclimation.