Lizzie.....Errrrmmm?
Your point being?
When did any musician want to be popular?
Musicians make music. thats what they do.
If they get lucky, maybe they'll make a few shillings. (Not me sadly)
Trying to turn traditional music into some sort of quasi X Factor, is quite frankly nauseating.
"Popular in the English Folk World"
That to me means, You get 30 people in a dingy upstairs room in a pub, having driven 400 miles for 50 quid.
Thats a pretty good gig to me.
All your boysies, are in the main, damn well destitute. and play music because that is what they do. It's bad enough earning less than the minimum wage per annum (However talented they may be), But to then be subjected to fawning idolatry by someone who doesn't even want to buy their product, and expects to be given it for nothing. Is just downright insulting.