Let's start with the most practical consequence of calling classical music elitist: it scares people away from it. That's the real problem. Saying it's just for rich people or old folks means a kid from a working-class family might never give it a chance. That's not true, and it's harmful. My argument: one, classical music is literally everywhere. Movie scores, video games, even commercials use it constantly. Two, it's not outdated because new composers are writing it right now. Three, affordability is an issue, but that's a problem with arts funding, not the music itself. Plenty of free concerts exist, and recordings are cheap or free. Calling it elitist ignores how accessible it actually is. The real barrier is that narrative, not the music.

You say it's everywhere in movies and games, but that's just background noise, not engagement. The real issue is who feels welcome in concert halls. I've been to plenty, and the crowds are overwhelmingly wealthy, white, and older. That's not a narrative problem, that's a class barrier. You mention free concerts, but those are rare exceptions. Most major orchestras have ticket prices that shut out low-income families. Even streaming isn't the same as live performance. My point: One, the culture around classical music actively excludes people. Two, it's outdated because it's stuck in a 19th-century presentation model. Three, calling it elitist isn't scaring people away, it's naming a real problem. Until we fix the accessibility issue, it stays a rich person's hobby.

You make a fair point about concert hall demographics. But let me unpack that. One, you're conflating the music with the institutions. Classical music isn't inherently elitist. The problem is how some orchestras market themselves and price tickets. That's fixable. The Berlin Philharmonic streams concerts for free. The Met Opera does cheap student tickets. These changes are happening. Two, the outdated presentation model? Only if you ignore groups like the Kronos Quartet or Roomful of Teeth. They perform in clubs, not concert halls. They dress casually. They mix genres. That's not 19th-century stuffiness. Three, you say calling it elitist names a real problem. I'd argue it reinforces the problem. If we keep saying "this is for rich old people," we're the ones scaring newcomers away. The music itself doesn't care about your income or age. Let's fix the institutions, not blame the art.