Glueman,
"'the common people' ..... meaningless".
Only if you choose to make it so - they are to be found in numerous books on social history on my shelves; several of which include them in the title
Oral tradition ....meaningless ..... balls!!!! - Ruth Finnegan, John Blacking et al roll over.
I find it interesting the way you feel free to dismiss existing definitions in the arbitrary way you do, then scurry behind 'masters degree' and 'courts of law' to bolster up your somewhat leaky point!
"contemporary society has already changed the definition of folk music"
Contemporary society has done no such thing, any attempts to change the existing definition have come from a small and dwindling group of singers motivated by personal taste and self interest who have been unable to find their own pot to piss in and want to use this one. Society in general doesn't give a toss - but they can always go to the dictionary should they change their minds.
Jim Carroll