Well, greg's right, it shouldn't matter if a wide range of interests is represented. The problem just seems to be that the whole process isn't open, and for example the lists from which the nominations are eventually chosen, the lists of 'suggestions', etc., are not made public. Only by seeing these lists can people like us make proper enquiries as to why certain artists have been overlooked (assuming they were). It could just be that certain artists were genuinely overlooked through lack of awareness of those involved in the awards, rather than there being any skulduggery at work. The whole process needs to be opened up, to avoid any accusations of fixing - it would be in everyone's interests, even those artists that gain from the present system, because they might still win anyway, and they would be seen to have won fairly and squarely, rather than by being helped by the process.

(This is entirely different from the issue of Seth Lakeman's song being nominated as traditional - that is obviously wrong and complaints should have been made. The BBC should withdraw the nomination and replace it by no. 5 on the shortlist.)