It is a shame. I think it’s especially a shame for children and young people.

A counter to radio remaining relevant is “I can listen to whatever I want, via this digital technology”.

Fine - but young people don’t yet have a complete mental map of what culture they enjoy.

In the UK, funding for libraries and the arts (public radio, the BBC) has been increasingly cut in the name of austerity. I think that’s true in the US too.

Despite this, young people have an unprecedented amount of access to culture. Or, at least, any form of culture that can be digitally replicated.

Soulseek and Anna’s Archive are wonderful projects. But they only have as much utility as the person using them can put into the search bar.

We’re increasingly entrusting cultural education - what to put into the search bar - to algorithms that are designed not (as the BBC’s mission statement is) to “inform, educate, and entertain”, but to retain attention.

Even worse: many of these (eg, Spotify) hide real access behind subscription fees. If you grew up broke, like I did, you will understand how inaccessible this real access is.

The most motivated young people will continue to find the workarounds piracy offers, and to find other routes for cultural education.

Any young person who isn’t in that upper percentile of motivatedness might increasingly be left out. You can attribute that to a choice they have made - I think that’s wrong.

I think the joy of broadening one’s horizons is available to all, and is also difficult to learn and a strain to continue to practice. I think it must be taught.

I think this is especially true and important when everyone has a constantly-available option of algorithmically-selected pleasantness.

Human radio DJs are not optimized for pleasantness, or to serve you relevant ads based on your conversations with them. At their best, DJs are educators.

Anyone who grew up listening to radio knows that, and knows the pleasure that comes from learning not to change the channel when something new and uncomfortable-feeling comes on, just in case it ends up being something you fall in love with.