"who are managing to make a fulltime career as singers"
'Careers' as an objective seem to me to be one of the greatest threats to folk song.
Just after we moved to Ireland, I watched an impressive programme entitled "has traditional music sold out" ( a subject which seems to be inconceivable as a topic on the British media).
One of Ireland's leading fiddle players said that a solo performer was finding it virtually impossible to make a living out of the music and in order to survive, you needed to form or join a band - career pursuit dominating and reshaping your music.
Folk song has, in my opinion, long been established as the 'voice of the people' and its revival and strength has relied on grass-roots level participation.
Once you make your objective a career, your employer calls the tune, not you.
Jim Carroll