Standards, yes, we need them. And once applied, we can exclude anything or anyone that falls short of those standards. It's OK, there might be some mistakes at first, but with years and experience we will adjust the standards to the ideal levels.

In fact, we should take a leaf out of the EU book. Take apples. Brussels has set standards, and the supermarkets (read: box office) will not touch apples that fall short of those standards. As a result, in Kew Gardens is one of the few places where one can still find those varieties that for one reason or another (usually iability to keep to the same size or colour, or too many spots) have fallen short of the standards. Apparently some of those varieties are right tasty too, but hey, the didn't meet the standards so they deserve to die out, right?

Same with songs/singers.players. You don't meet the standard, even after a decent time of trying, well sorry mate, but you're out. Not popular, or commercial, or standard enough.

Bohemian Rapsody, you say? What crap title is that - and the song is 8 minutes long, it would never fit onto a 45rpm. Sorry, scrap it. How many verses in Tam Lin? Jesus on a bike, do you want the audience to fall asleep? Sorry, out it goes. As for this Leonard Cohen guy, what is it with his voice? Has he had a cold? You say the song is good, but I can't get past his performance - way below standard. So, "Hallellujah"-"Mallelujah", scrap it.

Yes, we need standards in music - and especially in folk or whatever you want to call it. Wrap me a dozen to go. And a hole in the head with it.