In your opinion, what is the current position of jazz music in mainstream culture? Is it a marginalized art form or still thriving?

Hey, great question! A lot of people feel this way. I'd say jazz today occupies a position similar to "Classical Chinese" (wenyanwen) or a "reclusive martial arts master" in our culture.

You might not see it trending every day, but its core principles and essence have permeated every facet of modern popular culture.

Let's look at this from two angles:

1. From "Lead Star" to "Best Supporting Act": Why Does it Seem Marginalized?

It's true. If you look at mainstream music charts, whether Billboard or charts in China (like TME), you'd be hard-pressed to find a single authentic jazz track in the top 50. From this perspective, jazz is no longer the center stage ("C position") of contemporary pop music.

No Longer the King of the Dance Floor: Back in the day (the 1920s-40s), jazz was the hottest party music, like EDM or Hip-hop today—the background soundtrack for young people dancing and socializing. But now, when you go to a livehouse to hear jazz, it's mostly about sitting down and listening attentively. The vibe is different.
A Certain "Appreciation Barrier": Jazz involves a lot of improvisation, and its chords and rhythms are more complex than much pop music. For ears accustomed to the standard "verse-chorus-bridge" structure, jazz might initially feel a bit "hard to grasp" or "aimless" at first, as you never know what's coming next. It's like being used to Hollywood blockbusters and then switching to an art film—it requires some patience.
Stereotyped Image: For many people, the image conjured by jazz is: old-time bars, black-and-white movies, a glass of whiskey... This "retro," "bourgeois" image makes it feel more like "background music" for specific scenes than everyday pop companionship.

So, if you only look at commercial exposure and mainstream popularity, it's reasonable to call it "marginalized." It's no longer that dominant mainstream phenomenon it once was.

2. The Undying Soul: Why it Still Thrives

But! That's only half the story. Jazz's genius lies in the fact that it hasn't disappeared; instead, it has "become fragmented" and implanted its DNA into almost all the music we hear today.

It's the "Universal Sauce" of Modern Music:
- Hip-hop: Did you know? Many classic Hip-hop tracks, by artists like A Tribe Called Quest, J. Cole, or Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar, feature extensive jazz samples. That lazy, swinging feel? Its roots are in jazz.
- R&B and Pop: Chord progressions and vocal runs/riffs in much R&B and Soul music are deeply influenced by jazz. Think Adele, Amy Winehouse (her music was a perfect blend of jazz and pop), or even those sophisticated-sounding chords in many Mandopop songs—trace them back, and you'll find jazz influences.
- Lofi Hip Hop: Ever listen to those "Lofi Hip Hop Radio - beats to relax/study to" streams while working or studying? That relaxing, looping music with a bit of static? It's basically made with jazz chord fragments, piano or sax tones, and hip-hop beats layered on top. This is arguably one of jazz's most successful modern "mutations"!
The Cinema & Gaming "Master of Mood":
- Films like La La Land and Pixar's Soul, two huge hits, put jazz center stage, introducing countless young people to its charm. Many film scores also use jazz to build suspense, romance, or urban atmosphere.
The Rise of a New Generation of Jazz Artists:
- Jazz itself is evolving. Masters of the new generation like Kamasi Washington and Robert Glasper fuse jazz with Funk, electronics, and rock, creating entirely new sounds. Their festival shows have an incredibly energetic atmosphere, smashing the stereotype of jazz as "old-fashioned."

To Sum Up My Point of View:

Therefore, I believe jazz's place in contemporary mainstream culture is more like that of an "Invisible Founder" or "Fount of Inspiration."

It's no longer the dazzling star standing firmly in the spotlight. Instead, it's become like air, water, and soil, nourishing the growth of almost all modern popular music. It has evolved from being a "specific music genre" into a "universal musical language."

So, calling it marginalized makes sense if we're purely looking at commercial charts; but saying it's still thriving is true when we consider its cultural influence and artistic vitality. It might not be "popular" in the mass-consumption sense anymore, but it's arguably more "important" than ever before.