The article referring to Apple starting a radio station is not tailing about over the air FM style radio stations. They are talking about fake streaming radio stations like Pandora or Apple radio…
Relating to other comments:
Having one device that contains the FM analog side and the existing digital side isn't all that hard to do.
Regarding advertising, any web radio station or source has plenty of advertising and is getting worse at interrupting service as each day passes by.
The desire to listen to a FM radio station offers the chance to get local up to the minute information by scanning the dial. Can't do that with digital.
Regarding Apple making decisions, they have made plenty of blunders within their product lines as the years have passed, so don't think they are infallible.
Apple has a tendency to attempt to obsolete a technology, even ones it invents i.e. firewire to try and keep ahead of it's competition. The desire to monopolize is strong within the Apple walls, so don't expect global reception of FM miracles.
FM radio is going to be around for a long, long time. Want to listen to a digital streaming boom box that asks you to "Like" a piece of music… and if you don't answer within a given time period, it ends the session, I didn't think so.
For those who have no knowledge of FM listening, open up your world and compare the current popups, sliding or overlay ads and tell me that that they aren't as bad or worse than the 30 second FM radio ads for your local car salesman… that actually go away.