You have no evidence whatever that that is not the case so

As discussed many times, Jim, you are making the claim, it is up to you to prove it. I have already agreed that it may be part of the issue. You say it is the main reason for the decline in folk clubs so you give us the evidence that it is. And before you ask, I think there is a combination of reasons that moved people out of folk clubs as they were with no single cause being more important than another.