Most radios in the United States included AM and shortwave until FM was introduced in 1948. The story we've been told is that government officials, concerned about Communist short wave radio progpaganda stations, encouraged manufacturers in the US to take out the short wave tuner and put in an FM tuner, which can only receive local signals. In most countries, people like to listen to shortwave to get a different perspective from their nations' media. Even in the US, thousands of people tune in to short wave each evening and are regular listeners to a wide range of programs produced at home as well as overseas. For some projects, this might be an appropriate and affordable approach.
Many people ask about Amateur radio.
It is a set of bands that are set aside for two way communication between people with special transcievers. You can't play music, or use it for business purposes. The same goes for Citizens Band, or CB radio.