I've seen under 20s totally transfixed by Martin Carthy's update of FFoSM. But I don't think many of them had even heard of Fotheringay and have precious little interest in 70s folk rock anyway. They're far more likely to have come across Nancy Kerr & James Fagan doing BotN.

However, I would guess that a fairly large proportion of the MH show's core audience would be hard put to register a preference between the two and would already have both tracks on CD.

I am therefore unable to see any point in the exercise. Yes, maybe Smooth Ops are trying to take public opinion into account but I don't think this is the way.