I think we live in a closer world than you think. Niches and exploration may be hidden away in evenings and weekends, but radio is still strong in this area - particularly on the BBC, where there is less worry about playing unfamiliar stuff which (I’m afraid) drives audiences away.

Your friends will always be great trusted guides for you. But a radio presenter who shares your choice in music - and yes, there are some, I’m sure - should also be a trusted guide for you. I’d argue that you just haven’t found them yet - and that navigation is a real issue. Would you know, not being a BBC Radio 1 listener, what type of music Gilles Peterson plays, or Pete Tong, or Zane Lowe? Me neither, so you won’t find me tuning in. Maybe that’s the problem.

But hopefully the world you live in is more than just an iPod on shuffle; which is where some of the great strengths of radio come into play. If you don’t see any benefit in having radio presenters, then you’ve just been listening to crap ones.