Ah...another how should it be labelled discussion. Interesting points, but it never ceases to amaze me that this is a hotbed of discussion-then again I did work in a very large World Music department at Tower Records before its demise, and dealt with this sort of thing a lot. It's not about trends, even trends in English folk. It's not about artists who release an album that is half traditonal, half contemporary or self written. To me it's about tradition or tradition inspired (oh dear, now I've made my own label). I feel that anything indidginous in a traditional sense that has not branched off beyond recognition belongs to "world" music. Native American Indian music is world music, so is Cajun. Country music, despite its origins in British Isles folk music has evolved into its own seperate entity, as has Blues, which is why its not World music. The comparison to the griot is completely apt-akin to the oldest ballads in the English tradition..be it sung by Johnny Doughty, Kate Rusby, or Dick Miles. The reason I can say that is by comparison of say Toumani Diabate, the great kora player, who comes from generations of kora players, equally adept at playing the most beautiful traditional melody, or bringing his instrument into new areas, such as with his Symmetric Orchestra. I'll be honest though...I have never liked the World Music monniker, so call it what you want. It seems though that what some of you are arguing is...ok maybe in America you can put English folk in the world music section, but it shouldn't be in England, similar to the story Jim related. There's a fair point there...but if one does honestly compare folkloric traditions worldwide-could some of you not agree that there is a kinship between Malian kora players, Iraqi oud players, and English fiddle players? Throw out the marketing and all the other stuff thats been written here, its irrelevant. It all fits, its all traditional, or traditional inspired music.