On the uk folk scene we have a different scenario, a certain degree of nepotism.
I am digressing now from the BBC folk awards, I do not know of any nepotism there, but the awards could lend themselves open to this if Agents were allowed too much influence,
I am not saying it has happened yet, but there could be a danger there which would undermine the credibility of these awards.
here are a few quotes that are worth remembering
Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.
"Music can save people, but it can't in the commercial way it's being used. It's just too much. It's pollution."
Bob Dylan