Mick - I just have to correct you on one point - "airplay is non-existent".   There are a number of radio shows that DO play socially relevant songs and protest songs. There are some radio shows that ONLY play music of that sort. Speaking for myself, my program is a mix of styles but I do include music such as you describe, and I am not alone.    The difference between 2004 and 1964 is that "folk" music is not a hip trend that is embraced by a relatively large audience. In 1964 "folk" music could be heard on commercial radio stations, but it wasn't the protest variety that you describe.

If you look at the Folk-DJ list, you will see that today there are literally hundreds of shows airing across the country, and the majority of them DO play songs of a topical nature. It may be selfish of me to ask this, but why aren't more people listening?

My father-in-law was a program director for a local radio station during the early 60's. The station used to broadcast live concerts from Palisades Amusement Park, a venue that is sadly only a memory. One night the station had booked an artist whose name everyone here would know. (I will only say it wasn't Pete Seeger.) Before the broadcast the station management made it clear to the artist that the station would pull the plug if any controversial songs were performed. This artist grudingly complied.   

I only mention this story to illustrate the constraints that were placed on musicians during the 1960's.   We often forget just how restrictive radio was during this time. The songs that did get airplay were either sugar-coated imitations of folk music, or songs that were relatively "safe" choices - such as Peter, Paul & Mary's "Blowing In the Wind" (a song that had great social significance, but was not overt in its message as many protest songs were.)    What is amazing, and a testament to the strength of the "folk revival", is that the songs we all remember were passed on largely through concerts, magazines like Sing Out! and Broadside, and communal sharing of songs in hoots and the like.   THIS is what is missing in the year 2004. Yes, Sing Out! is alive and well, but the readership is not at the numbers it was in the 60's.   There are fewer venues that present this type of music, and the audiences SEEM to be dwindling (based on attendance at several clubs in the NYC/NJ area.) There are powerful songs being written, but fewer people are getting the opportunity to hear them.   Check out some of the names mentioned - Joe Jencks, John Flynn, Anne Feeney, Ani Difranco and others. They do reach younger ears, but as we know, the strength is in numbers.