I believe that music should strike a balance between intellectualism and mass appeal...

I believe that music should strike.

what kind of picket signs would it have?

Hmm... 'Play better!'

What does mass appeal have to do with anything?

It has to do mostly with making sure that good music is kept alive, and making sure that it spreads beyond borders. It's not really hard to give the music something that will have mass appeal. It bothers me that, for the most part, truly good musicians aren't all that concerned about trying to influence the quality of what's on our airwaves.

I thought you meant compromising art just for a dollar or two. Thank you for clarifying. One thing though, would we ever have had a sorabji, alkan, thalberg, schubert, bach(the original), xaver scharwenka, mosolov, feinberg, lyapunov, scriabin, prokofeiv, georgy catoire, nikolai medtner, sibelius, draeseke, lyatoshynsky, or ravel if all of those composers decided to compromise because of everyday shallowness(it's like the common cold)? You can see a clear division between those who know art, and those who judge and pollute art. Or do you not agree with that sentiment?