Lizzie's point is perfectly valid. If you believe that awards for folk music have any value for the music (I don't personally, but that's just my opinion), then surely those who do believe in it should know (a) who the decision makers are and (b) what criteria are being applied?

So, do the criteria include such things as: sales of albums/downloads? appearances live and/or in the broadcast media? influence on the development of the music? 'popularity' (measured by...)? recommendations by fellow artists? Etc., etc.

I would also say that - contrary to what sfmans believes, this thread is not giving "Bellowhead their traditional Mudkicking". I, like many another poster here, enjoy Bellowhead's music - I have all their CDs - and I don't believe this thread has actually much to do with Bellowhead or any other band. It's about the transparency or otherwise of a music award process - which is worth debating.