Just ploughed through this lengthy thread and found no mention of the category award of "Lifetime Achievement". This year, the joint winners were both North American, Judy Collins and James Taylor.


I think it is explained elsewhere - but I am delighted to spell it out again. Note I do not agree with the policy and the link if it is as you say between the publicity machines is disgraceful. Show me some proof of that and I will take it up with the BBC since it smacks of corruption.

The event, as has been pointed out is an industry bash with invited outsiders. These include Arts and Culture Minister people, others from the entertainment industry etc etc. Including Very Senior BBC people.

The names Tom McConville, Demon Barbers, and Lau may be familiar to you and I. Maybe anyone seeing these artists for the first time may be knocked out when seeing them (as we all know) - but those people above, and whether we like it or not they are influential - will say "Who?" when hearing those names.

So the Folk Awards have a "The Lifetime Achievement Award" which isn't voted for or anything, they are just given so that those with influence recognize that not all folk is performed by unknowns.

I am not agreeing with this necessarily, but just trying to explain how it is.

As for it all being London-based I am sure there is a grain of truth - but all the people I know that went were from North of the Trent.

HTH