It is the private archives of collectors that are becoming very valuable to the Folk Scene.Many artists have been taken for granted that they will be around forever.Old cassettes in peoples lofts contain archive recordings of players that have never recorded and are deteriorating daily. A couple of artists work would have been lost forever had they had not been used and computer cleaned for the recent collection I have been working on.I understand that the recent Tony Rose CD is made up of old live recordings many from private sources..If there is an important recording to the Folk World or any other musical World,that all efforts are made to source the family or the artist,then in my opinion it should be used.There is very little money to be made but the value to the listeners is worth much more.
Al