Alive and Kicking

When people say classical music is dead, they mean one specific thing: traditional concert attendance is declining. But classical technique is everywhere. Many film scores use orchestral writing, and even electronic scores often borrow classical ideas about tension, release, and instrumental color. Video game soundtracks (Final Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda) are performed by full symphonies.

Streaming has actually increased classical music consumption. Spotify's classical playlists have millions of followers. Lo-fi study music borrows heavily from classical harmony. Sample-based hip-hop has mined classical recordings for decades.