Who Cares if You Listen

"Who Cares if You Listen?" is an influential essay written by composer and musicologist Milton Babbitt, first published in 1958. In this piece, Babbitt discusses the relationship between composers and their audiences, particularly in the context of contemporary classical music and the avant-garde. Babbitt argues that many contemporary composers create music that is complex and challenging, often with the understanding that it may not appeal to a mainstream audience.