Hey Leenia, I reckon 'cool' is nothing to do with what the media say or don't say, but rather it's a perception held by an individual or group of individuals. My introduction to folk music, back in 1960 or 61, was by a Scottish guy called Jack Whyte (later a poet and the writer of the 'Camulod' cycle of novels) who taught me a version of 'Twa Corbies', and his then American girlfriend (woooo-hoo!) who sang me 'All The Pretty Horses' and played the guitar. My perception was that this folk-stuff was 'cool' and, having a very long attention span (unlike the media!), that's still my perception.

Jack and his lady did me a great favour.
S:0)