A traditonal song (tune or dance) is one that has no attributed source (the author is not known) and has been passed from one generation to the next by oral/aural means. If the author is known, it is not trad, even if the author died 70 years ago. Songs can be written in the style of the tradition, they are still not traditional. Songs thought to have been traditional are occasionally found to have a source, some traditonal songs have allegedly been "claimed" by some people and have since earnt royalties on them. The arrangement of trad songs/tunes can be done in a contemporary manner and some contemporary songs/tunes in a manner that makes them "sound" traditional. From the point of rights and earnings and the historical context of the material, it is important to understand and maintain the the distinction of what is trad and what is contemporary, after that we just play the stuff, either trad or contemporary, and enjoy it. Now why does this matter for the BBC F&A Awards? We have a song that could potentially stop another song or tune from winning or to have been selected because it is in the wrong category. The WH in fact may lose but could have won in another category as best original song/tune. It matters because artists CD sales and festival/concert appearances are boosted following an award. It matters because the credibility of the awards and the panel is now under question. It matters because of the attitude that Smooth Ops/BBC is taking over the affair. It matters because we need to respect what is our heritage and also the craft of our contemporary composers. If Seth and his record label subsequently decide to take complete ownership of the song, will other people who may have recorded the song, performed the song at a paid for engagement or used it in some broadcast, play or presentation have to pay retrospective royalties?
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