Its a tricky one. Jim (the resident expert) is always very insistent that one of the differences between trad. and comtemporary (and one of the the things that nullifies any contemporary song from being folk) is this business of ownership.

You seem to be proposing that we extend ownership to source artists.

To be honest I've been a full member of the PRS for nearly forty years. I was initially quite pleased to get money from anywhere - but over the years I've realised they work in their mysterious way - and its life , but not as we know it, as they used to say in Star Trek.

For ages they sent glossy publications with bugger all in them . They gave John Lennon scholarships for musicians that surely wouldn't be caught dead listening to.

I suppose they're as likely to see things your way as anything. But I wouldn't hold my breath.