McGrath is right, however the "room" has changed with the times.

Generations ago the folk songs WERE mass entertainment - although the delivery system was different. Without getting into a disussion of the folk process, in general most folk songs were passed songs from generation to generation or via troubadors traveling from town to town. People would carry them when they emigrated and the process was at work. Songs were like heirlooms, and they WERE a form of mass entertainment.

In the 20th century as music was first recorded, the mode changed. People started to become passive listeners instead of active participants.

So the rooms like Folk City or the radio stations that played folk songs became the "room" where people gathered to share their love of the music. The love may have been expressed differently, but it was still expressed.

Now we are in a new century and music is shared and experienced in ways that our ancestors couldn't have imagined. I'm sure 99% of us can pull from a diverse CD collection featuring music of all genres. "Way back when" people could only share music from their family songbook. The oral tradition has been replaced by an electronic tradition - and the clubs and coffeehouses are still needed to carry it on and introduced the music to a new audience that is used to hearing music in such venues.

Sorry, I'm very wordy today. I'll stop rambling - for now!

Ron