I lean towards Christine Labroche's optimism.  It is harder than ever
for a composer to get heard and broadcasting is certainly in a bad way
with regard to classical music, yet paradoxically there is more music
available than ever before (especially, as Christine says, if you live
in the woods, which is where I grew up!) Classical music (and high art
in general) doesn't even get lip service any more, so that if there are
Stokowskis and Bernsteins out there, they do not become household names
as they once did, and young people don't even think about classical
(though a lot of them listen to avant-garde stuff that might be borderline
or crossover.) But I am still buying (too many) CDs.  music is an industry
with a 'long tail' in marketing terms.  The big head is Britney Spears
and all that rubbish, but there is a long tail of fans for better music
all over the world, reachable on the internet.

The same is true in publishing.  Sales of magazines are actually up, but
over 30% of the sales are in celebrity tabloids, while a lot of magazines
are going online.  Nobody knows how it's all going to fall out, but art
will not die.  It is what makes us different from animals.  And maybe
the only difference we can be proud of...

D. Clarke

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