The "isn't everything a tumor argument" is interesting however it is a narrow view.

Yes on a microscopic level everything is a constant adaptation but when you step back the apples can be seen to go in one basket and the oranges in another.

It all depends on what degree of resolution you use for the picture.

And what purpose you have.

There can be an argument made that all recordings should go in the same genre bin in the record store. However that would not help those looking for a specific type of music.

I tend to operate on the level of resolution that lets me separate genres so they can be located and or avoided but also so that they can be included, given stages and an opportunity to continue to be heard. Their fair share of air time so that they can go on to influence other emerging genres.

So if you think all music is the same simply zoom out and you will find significant genre differences as striking as the similarities.

Yes we can have a diverse folk music festival tumors and all however we have to be sure to carve up the time and space so that all are included. That means the "root music" of a tradition or as Harding said in the broadcast the "old folk" after all if the tumor fusion people had not access to it they could have never grown their tumors onto it in the first place. Same with jazz. Yes we can have jazz but it is good to have access to the original resources from which it was created.

Conrad