I think it is interesting that the term "folk" has become so synonymous with singer/songwriters that trade magazines and radio stations now use the term "Americana" for roots-based performers who are not so introspective. In the meantime Joni Mitchel has said that she always considered her music caberet rather than folk. A number of her sensitive sisters have also stopped calling themselves folk. Of course folk music of non-english-speaking cultures is now "world music."

Maybe everyone will abandon folk and the word can mean traditional again.