[matthewhammond]

The difference with visual arts is, because of the way the market works avant-garde artists can still be financially hugely successful, and their works are correspondingly feted and displayed in the gallery temples. So people are more prone to be intimidated away from criticising what they don't understand, as you can't really argue with money in this society, and it projects influence and power anyway. If contemporary classical composers were mysteriously making millions from their work, they'd probably be treated similarly. Also, contemporary classical is really just a small slice of avant garde music nowadays, another thing articles like this never seem to get.