When I read some of the comments in this thread I despair for the future of folk music (as indeed I have done for more than fifty years).
The bitterness of some old stagers on here because of the success of the Laylam and Full English personnel would be slightly amusing were it not so pathetic.
And as for the status of performers - well, in my book they're either (a)amateur (they don't get paid), (b)semi-professional (they get paid but they have other jobs) or (c)professional (they earn their living from folk). I would suggest that anyone who is troubled by the description 'professional folk singer' changes their status from (c) to(a) forthwith. And take care not to dribble into your beer.