Physical album sales are down generally, Michael. But No 16 in the charts means that this is the 16th best selling album this week, regardless of what might have been happening 40 years ago. I think most working musicians do accept that what is happening now, rather than in some semi-mythical golden age, is the reality they are working with. The chart postion is brilliant for Bellowhead - it gives them increased exposure and radio play, which I'm sure they won't be upset about. I doubt they're thinking, "Bah! This succes we're having is shit because things were so much better in the 1970s."

I'm less convinced by the argument that 'this is good for folk music'. It suggests folk music is a homogenous mass with Bellowhead at the vanguard, which simple isn't the case. Not to begrudge them their success, of course.