I am sure that CD sales are down in all genres. The most recent US number one album sold only 800 copies that way. That's not to do with Brexit or austerity, just changing patterns of consumption.

But I agree there's an issue. It's frustrating when people who are really good performers of traditional songs choose to make mediocre singer-songwriter albums instead.

Where I live, there is a long-established folk club that programmes a wide variety of music including some very good traditional acts. However, when they have open stage nights, it's rare to hear any traditional material at all. People who were frustrated with this set up a second folk club to create an environment where traditional music could be heard. I went there for the first time in ages last week, and it too seems to have fallen prey to tedious cover versions and uninteresting confessional songwriting. Maybe it's inevitable. I certainly can't complain, as I haven't contributed anything on the organisational front.