I can only speak for what I know, I havent done a survey. I play with the Boat Band, and our most recent CD had a track played on the Mike harding show. We are with Harbourtown Records, which is definitely not what you would call a major label. Respectable minor label, maybe? We are available via Proper Distribution, however, which is apparently quite OK in these circles. So I am not sure if we are evidence for or gainst your assertion.
    The CD, I may add, was recorded by me on a Yamaha studio in my sitting room, so it is certainly not true to suggest that big money needs to be spent to get on Radio 2.
    There are, of course, huge controversies ongoing about the Radio 2 Folk Awards and the unbelievably peculiar voting results thrown up, which have yet to be adequately explained by the BBC; but that's another story. I believe another phase of that will be on Feedback on radio 4 tomorrow, 1.30PM(Fri).
    But, keeping to the topic of this thread, it is perfectly possible to get played without being signed to a "major label" (whatever that means in folk circles, I am not sure).