The Future of Classical Music: A Favorable Metric
[1] It appears that over the last century, OMS ratings for popular music have been going up. For instance, a typical pop tune from the early 1950’s (such as Four Aces “Three Coins in the Fountain”, Patti Page “Tennessee Waltz”, Guy Mitchell “My Heart Cries for You”, Bill Haley “Rock Around the Clock”) rates around 100. Today, a typical pop tune (such as a winning performance by an American Idol winner) is in the range of 140.
[2] OMS ratings for classical music begin at about 170. Not much higher than what we hear on American Idol.
Here is an attempt at interpreting the above:
It appears that public tolerance/receptivity is increasing for music of greater complexity/richness. This would suggest that someone who likes American Idol performances is already somewhat predisposed to “like” certain kinds of classical music. And I would speculate that this kind of tolerance/receptivity will continue to increase.
To state another way: The apparent “chasm” between popular and classical music is narrowing, and is starting to become an overlap. As this overlap develops further, more and more classical music will become familiar, comfortable, attractive.