and who made and distributed the recording of Mary Ann that Sam probably learned the song from? VOTP is a commercial venture.

Sminky - musicians have always been paid to play for dancing, and probably for singing in some circumstances. There have always been songwriters who sold songs, song collectors who sold broadsheets, tune collectors who sold tune books. There have always been travelling musicians and singers (and actors), who did it for a living. Folk music is interwoven with music hall and other forms of entertainment, and crosses over with classical and earl music - all with professional elements.

Jon - yes people do seek to drive wedges. And dangerous it is.

We all need each other.

Why is that a problem?