Jim, sorry, didn't mean to ignore your question above.

I'm probably not the best person to ask, I'm not a prolific song writer, and just 'produce' a few that I'm happy enough with to set loose on an unsuspecting public, although there are lots end up on the cutting room floor! Most of the band's repertoire is traditional.

I'm not in this for the money, my motivation is firstly from a love of the tradition and wishing to see that tradition maintained and developed, and brought to the attention of a wider audience, (the same reason I'm prepared to be seen in public with a banjo and some strangely dressed folks loosely called a morris side!) and secondly for the personal pleasure of performing and sharing those songs with other people. (I can tell you there is a real thrill in having an audience 5-600 people singing along with a song you've written!)

So to answer your question, I would have no problem at all with forgoing my royalties and withholding my name in order to make my songs 'folk' if that's what it takes, but as you know, we do have to agree to differ on what makes a song 'folk'

John.

PS, sorry about the way the post above came out, obviously incorrect placings of html tags, Bl..dy technology eh! ;)