I have been on the panel of those who voted for the Folk Awards in the past. One of the things you get is a list of albums which is 'for guidance only' and you are perfectly entitled to vote for something else if you want. So it was a bit of a surprise a couple of years ago when a second list appeared in the post because they had 'missed off' someone's album. (there were still a number of equally worthy albums which they hadn't seen fit to add).
I suggested that this was clearly not in the spirit of 'for guidance only'. (my quotes)
I have not been asked to vote since then.

If people don't think it affects them they should consider
a) what proportion of a festival budget a Radio 2 Folk Awards winner gets.
b) How this compares with what they got prior to winning
c) how much more they contribute to the average festival beyond their headline concert.
d) how this compares with the payment to, and the input made by a morris team booked at the same festival.
Of course it affects us all.