"Entertainment" is used as an insult by those who prefer to think of their music/art/whatever as being somehow deeper/more meaningful/more important. Often that is used to say that thy like to consider themselves that way too.

It kind of reminds me of those theatre people who would shudder at th thought of being considered "commercial" by actually doing anything for payment... they'd rather wait for arts-council funding to stop them being seen as "commercial" or "entertainers" rather than "artists"


In many cases it might be fair to say something is indeed somewhat superficial in comparison but that doesn't mean it isn't serving a purpose.

Music is there to be entertaining, sometimes instructional, and I wonder how many of the tunes and songs the anti-entertainment people slaver over would have just been considered as boppy little ditties sung for fun way back when.

There has been so much cross-pollenation between 'folk'and 'mainstream' that it is sometimes pointless to quibble. There have always been performers who both represented a society or group and were rewarded for their performances.

(sorry: the 'e' key on the kyboard is dying)