It's interesting how this topic is reminiscent of the way some talk about jazz. What is jazz? This can also start a lively debate. Some say that any arranged swing oriented dance band can be called jazz. Others say that jazz is only based on improvisation. Even the term "classical" music is ambiguous. I guess labels seem to trigger reactions.

The solution is to go with the style of music that you like. As a consumer of music, it doesn't do any good any more to group music under any different label because the terms "folk", "jazz", "classical" have be appropriated by the recording industry to sell the kind of genre they think the public will buy. It becomes important to know more about what record labels produce and their artists.

The frame of reference for dealing with these musical terms has deteriorated because there are no standardized definitions that people can agree upon.

For those like me who like a certain kind of music that we used to call folk, the solution would be to follow the culture that created the music that you like. Take a folklorist or anthropologist view of the music and you'll find what you're looking for. You probably won't find it in the popular music field.

Frank