I know some people that know NOTHING about jazz, but still appreciate listening to it. They wouldn't know a Basie tune from an Ellington, but they listen to both!

That's the wonderful thing about music... it bypasses the higher levels in your brain and speaks directly to the emotions, no education required! (thank God! Where would we all be if you NEEDED an educated audience? )

That's all the academization of music is, IMO... an effort to quantify, to explain WHY some pieces of music induce strong emotion, and some don't. But a dirt farmer in the middle of nowhere can decide for himself if he likes it or not. And that in and of itself is the battle won or lost...