[Andrew Kenneth]

Classical music is becoming a growing streaming market according to this Forbes article; reaching a share of 32%.

=> https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissamdaniels/2019/07/22/how-classical-music-is-becoming-the-next-emerging-streaming-market/?sh=797a479c2894

statistic =>

This 2019 abc.net article is even more optimistic => "The study found that 35% of adults listened to classical music. Classical music was the fourth most popular music genre, with more fans than R&B or hip hop."
=> https://www.abc.net.au/classic/read-and-watch/news/young-large-audience-for-classical-music/11418000

 

[Andrew Kenneth]

Streaming numbers can be misleading since listening to ten seconds of a track would count. Which is why data on purchasing patterns are a more reliable indicator of actual support. Also sites like Spotify have curated albums such as "Classical Music for Studying ... Reading ... When It's Raining", etc. that infuriate me when I'm searching for a composer's music but must be designed for the "Average Joe."

The abc.net article also states that : "Those surveyed were almost evenly split on whether they listened intently to classical music or played it in the background. Respondents in South Korea were most likely to be "purist" listeners, sitting down and listening closely.".

So, without the "classical background listeners" there still remain 17% attentive classical listeners.

And to be fair, an awful lot of people are "background pop listeners" too. It's not a classical music only phenomenon.

 

[Andrew Kenneth]

If one wishes to promote classical music, it might be a good idea to begin by acknowledging that listening to music as art is different than listening to it as entertainment, ear candy, or distraction.

A bunch of classical music is meant as just that : entertainment, ear candy, or distraction.
Telemann's table music, Mozart's divertimenti, Strauss waltzes, opera/operetta...the list goes on.
Also religious music composed as an earnest expression of religious sentiment instead of as "art".

 

[Andrew Kenneth]

"Naysayers argue classical music is being chased to extinction by technology. But young audiences in search of authentic experiences are embracing it more than ever before, says Alan Davey, controller of Radio 3."

Full 2017 article => https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/may/08/dont-apologise-for-classical-music-complexity-alan-davey-radio-3

 

[Andrew Kenneth]

Regarding making concert halls more informal and relaxed, I think it's worth mentioning that Boulez himself also organised his so-called Rug concerts in Philharmonia: (...)

This reminds me of Anne-Sophie Mutter's 2015 club concerts.