The meaning of "traditional" is actually very important to musicians who spend their careers interpreting that kind of material. When we're talking about an award SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED to the performance of said traditional material, on the flagship national radio programme devoted to folk music, then to describe the dispute as "nit picking on the scale of a playground scrap" is frankly insulting.

ChorleyBob, said: "I also think this row is being used as a smoke screen, almost like a legal technicality, to attack succesful young singers with attitude". But surely most of the 'young singers with attitude' (and bags of musical talent come to that) who are setting our festivals on fire are doing precisely the kind of interpretation of traditional material that this award is supposed to celebrate. Or does that mean they're "up themselves" (your words, Bob) as well?