George Papavgeris is quite right, this is an industry-led competition and designed to reward those most likely to consolidate the position of that industry. It is emphatically not an artistic competition. However, it is about music, and a specific genre at that: folk. It seems entirely right that the industry should recognise the Rusbys,Carthys and Lakemans that are creating the publicity. The rising tide, as Thatcher so aptly observed, will float all the boats equally (with the possible exceptpion of those of us with the lead weight of tradition tied round our ankles).
    But, and a big but: there is the question of which music belongs to the genre. And in particular, to the sub-genre defined as traditional. And to attempt to reward contemporary compositions under this heading seems plain perverse. Why Lakeman, in any case? If his compositions are to be labelled "Traditional folk", I would suggest that the Arctic Monkeys material is in precisely the same genre, and arguably of equal or even superior quality.
   I am not suggesting the Arctic Monkeys should definitely be in the category, merely that if Lakeman's songs should go in, so should theirs.
    Other than that curious and ridiculous decision, I am all for the awards. Of course we won't agree, a bit of controversy is fine. And we can all choose the records we buy, and whether they are award winners' material, or more esoteric stuff, is entirely up to us. I may say that I have loads of records of obscure ethnic goatherds, but also most of the recordings of an extremely prolific award winner from the justly famous Royal Family.