Weird music "these days"? Unlike the companion radio stations which existed for decades? Or the classic pieces that a lot of the lo-fi incorporates? Or the restaurant background-piano?

> Books (esp. classics) are still just as intriguing and engrossing as they were when they came out.

What we're used to these days has definitely moved the goal posts, at least in the adventure themes. For example the classic Bram's Dracula is not really exciting these days. The described technology is not amazing either (oh, he played a wax cylinder record)

> Books don't have live concerts where the point is entirely other than the enjoyment of the content.

Have you ever been to an author meeting + book signing events? Relatively popular authors can fill whole theatres.

> Books benefit from all the technological advancements of today (...) without having to become vapid background scenery as a result.

Have you heard of background audiobooks?