Folk music will always survive.

It is just a question of how niche you want to be. If you want it popular, it will just bastardize a lot more.

Fashions come in cycles. Cecil Sharp would have shuddered to hear Bob Dylan plagiarise some of his collectings. But Mr Zimmerman did spearhead the rise in Folk in his era.

Who can say what the scenario will be in the future - Folk will rise again, but not in a way I can predict. Futurology is littered with inaccurate prognostications. With minor facets that futurologists can hang their face-saving hats on!