Some other vague thoughts around this subject…

·        A professional artist can have one of two aims
o        The make music for making lots of money aim (KLF manual etc)
o        The make music that is your passion aim
o        (That's not to say that following the second aim can't lead to the first aim result, and obviously it's not that black and white – there is lots of grey too, but…)

·        Lets assume most folk musicians are working along the lines of aim 2.

·        That means their music has a personal edge to it. They are putting a bit of what they stand for in this world out there with their music.

·        That music is being used by an organisation that they don't agree with.

·        Most of the folkie world doesn't live on folk internet forums. Let alone those listening to said organisation's (rather tabloid-esq) publicity.

·        The folk against fascism group is giving artists other avenues to publicly state that they are not in agreement with this organisation, despite them using their music. The organised logo (like the point of any logo) aims to give a clear, united format, which is simple in announcing its aim.

Well done Joan (and unnamed others) – for both putting this together, and for getting the bbc to do too a story on it that didn't make me cringe once (something very rare for me when I normally listen/read media reports on folk!)

Jems