I think Buck has a point in his criticism of the "Little Boxes" song. It is those people that are buying musicians cd`s, filling their concert-halls etc. Migrating workers (or whatever socio-romantic pictures come to mind) couldn`t afford that. They probably dream of getting a little box for themselves. And in spite of all benefit concerts and the likes (attended by people from little boxes again) any social security system is relying on people living in little boxes.
Six is right: we haven`t changed - and probably we can`t more than to a certain degree.
Bak to original topic: Many things you hear as world music is not very traditional any more, but has taken up various influences (similar to bluegrass). As a label, everyone understands that it is a box containing african, asian, south-american styles etc.or mixtures of those or wirh modern styles.
Regards
Ernest