But it hasn't been defined Jim. The 1954 definition was out of date as it was written.

Those who are comfortable with the 1954 definition might feel it is defined for them, but it certainly doesn't define it for the thousands of people who like folk music and haven't even heard of a definition, not least one that was dreamt up before most folk music was even written...

It defines a tight knit group of traditional lyrics derived from the oral tradition. Folk as an umbrella is far far more than that. The oral tradition has been replaced by the youtube tradition...