Because if the cell networks fail, right now there's no backup method to get crucial information to everyone's hands.

Radio are an easy secondary, really long range mechanism to get information INTO disaster stricken areas when normal means of communications have failed.

That's what happens when we "removed regulations" and allowed Clear Channel (aka iHeartRadio) to buy up most every major station in the country.

However you can still do short range FM transmissions yourself, as a lot of people do with elaborate Christmas light displays, plus it's useful in emergency situations.

And crazy levels of advertising to boot.

Emergencies that would normally sever other means of communications. Think natural disasters that interrupt internet access. Usually radio stations are the first to come back up, and priceless at times where information is key.

Where I am we've got the BBC local radio network and they've got some amazing local music shows for each region granted all is available via their now locked down sounds app

In Atlanta we have a pretty nice jazz station (WCLK). The station that NPR took over (Album 88) was a university station and they still play stuff in the evening I think. There can be good content but it is heavily reliant on where you live. Come to think of it, WCLK is a university station as well. So I guess you have to have universities around.