Hi Challis...I appreciate the reply. In response,

Norma doesn't "reign supreme." There are folks like Kate Rusby and Eliza Carthy and Nancy Kerr. Kate is the one making the biggest splash, and arguably had more limelight in the past two years than either Norma or June.

One could ask in pop, why do Sting, U2 and (yes) Elvis Costello still reign supreme? How come the Rolling Stones can still sell out huge tours? How come anyone cares about George Harrison's personal life anymore?

But as a more constructive answer, the fact is that traditional music has always been an all-ages music, moreso than pop. 80 year old farmers sing the same songs, often better than youngsters. But the tradition has been around for hundreds of years, and will survive in some form without doubt.