I made some comment a while back about recordings and how folk and folklike recordings are treated as pop. Somewhere way back down the road, somebody made the decision that if folkish music were treated in the same manner as pop, with charts and 'hits' and such, it would be a good thing. Basing things on the pop model probably gets newer recordings more attention and rewards not just the artist, but those involved in recording and promoting.

It's not something I care to argue about. There's a faction that goes down the promotathon route and there's other music. The top two CDs in my car are currently ones I bought about 6 months ago. One is a compilation recording from '84-'94 and the other in 2000. I bought one because I'd heard others do his songs, and the other because, I have newer recordings. Radio play - folk 'Top 20 Countdown' - wasn't a factor. I listen to the radio, but they're often part of the promotion machine and not that big on playing older recordings.

That said, one of my two CDs is by a guy nominated for best contemporary artist, (Who doesn't like Tom Russell, whatever century?!) I don't hate the folkie hit machine and I like seeing the deserving being recognized, but it doesn't have much to do with my listening or buying habits.