The consequences of the income inequality growth caused by changes in the tax and financial systems for the musical art are considered. It is shown that the growth of inequality has a negative effect on the development of musical culture. This effect leads to a reduction of state support, rising ticket prices, reduced attendance of concerts and performances both in the most developed countries and in Russia, with an additional impact of the development of the music industry under conditions of technological progress. The main attention is given to the analysis of the situation in Russia after transition to market system that caused a significant increase in income inequality, including problems of reduced government funding, decreasing availability of musical concerts and performances, the ticket prices growth and reduction in the number of listeners of the philharmonic concerts, the decline of the musician profession prestige, the departure of musicians from the country, difficulties of acquisition of fixed assets for concert organizations, and in general, the risk of the population cultural level reduction. The main conclusions are: the necessity of decreasing income inequality of the population and strengthening state support for music in Russia.
