Off topic, but I think related to an extent.
"I still feel that many topical songs have a very short half-life"
Since working on Irish songs I have been introduced to an aspect of the tradition that I believe to have been very much neglected by researchers - that of local songs.
This area (West Clare) has been extremely rich in traditional songs that were to be found in the national and international repertoire, particularly Child ballads.
These were collected assiduously by the late Tom Munnelly, who was generous enough to introduce us to many of his singers.
Alongside these were a large number of locally made songs, mainly anonymous, which dealt with local events and people, drownings, murders, local amenities like the West Clare Railway, political and military skirmishes during the War of independence..... even one song about a well respected priest moving on to another parish.
Because of their local nature many didn't enter into the national repertoire and, after the event, disappeared completely; in some cases we have no more than a report of their existence.
It is because of these songs that I am sceptical of claims of some to have discovered the origins of our traditional songs as being broadsides.
People in both Britain and Ireland have, I believe, always made songs on subjects that have interested them which the have felt worthy of creation and circulation, this very much includes political subjects and events. We know this to be true in Ireland, and among the Travelling communities, but I am not sure that those researching in other parts of the British Isles have paid the same attention to this shadow repertoire simply because this particular genre of songs did not fit into the recognised traditional repertoires.
I know that this is not the case in the U.S. - just been doing work on the magnificent album of West Virginian songs, 'Virginia Traditions', issued by the Blue Ridge institute of Ferrum College.
Sorry for the interruption.
Jim Carroll