The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has revealed that the popularity of folk music is on the rise.
Information published by the BPI shows that folk albums contributed 1.6% towards record sales last year- a 20% growth in the UK since 2010.
Even though the share is still incredibly low, especially in comparison to other genres such as rock (29.4%) and pop (33.6%), it’s the highest figure folk has seen in the last century.
It’s believed one of the reasons for this is that over the last few years, more and more artists are being recognised at music awards.
Each year there is an increased amount of musicians up for nominations, and not just in the folk categories. At the 2011 Brit Awards, Laura Marling won Best British Female Solo Artist, and Mumford and Sons took home the prize for the MasterCard British Album of the Year.
Elsewhere, Bellowhead and Ray LaMontagne & the Pariah Dogs were also honoured; Bellowhead receiving awards for Best Group and Best Live Act at BBC Radio 2’s Folk Awards, and LaMontagne Best Contemporary Folk Album at the Grammys.
2012 looks even more promising for our favourite folk friends when it comes to the award season and here we’ve taken a look at just some of the ones who have been nominated and what for:
BRIT Awards 2012 (February 21)
Laura Marling: British Female Solo Artist
Bon Iver: International Male Solo Artist and International Breakthrough Act
Fleet Foxes: International Group
54th Grammy Awards (February 12)
Bon Iver: Record of the Year (Holocene), Song of the Year (Holocene), Best Alternative Album (Bon Iver), and Best New Artist.
Mumford and Sons: Record of the Year (The Cave) and Song of the Year (The Cave)
Fleet Foxes: Best Folk Album (Helplessness Blues)
Gillian Welch: Best Folk Album (The Harrow & The Harvest)
BBC Radio 2’s Folk Awards (February 8)
Bellowhead are nominated again for Best Group and Best Live Act.