But jOhn they do benefit people. Think of all the money that people who write songs and tunes are loosing because we are playing their work in public for free. Now I think that I am right in saying that most composers/writers in the tradition don't mind having their music played/sung as long as they are credited for it. Look what happens when they are not... people use their music and make millions from it without paying the composer a penny. i.e. Flatley in one of his dance videos used Caliope House (a tune composed by Dave Richardson from Boys of the Lough) Flattley made millions Dave had to take him to court to get anything is that fair?