Boom Radio, a station aimed at listeners over 60 who feel underserved by mainstream outlets, is incorporating punk rock into its programming to attract older audiences who grew up with the genre. The move is part of Boom’s strategy to capture former followers of BBC Radio 2, which has recently shifted its focus toward younger demographics.

Since its 2021 launch, Boom has attracted around 700,000 loyal listeners over the age of 60, primarily broadcasting pop classics from the 1950s through the 1970s. The station is staffed by several veteran DJs, including former BBC presenter David “Diddy” Hamilton. Over the same period, Radio 2 has seen a decline of two million listeners, though it remains the United Kingdom’s most listened-to station with an audience of 12.4 million.

Boom’s decision to add punk rock reflects the aging of the generation who embraced the genre in its late 1970s heyday. Co-founder David Lloyd said the station aims to serve music fans whose tastes span multiple decades, from rock’n’roll and glam rock to punk. He described the new programming as a natural extension, catering to what he called “punk pensioners” who once sported mohicans and pogoed to bands like The Sex Pistols. Lloyd asserted that Boom’s audience is open to a broad musical range and would welcome punk alongside the station’s existing playlist.

This week, Boom is launching a documentary focusing on Stiff Records, an independent label that released the UK’s first punk single, “New Rose” by The Damned, in 1976. The label also worked with genres spanning punk, alternative, new wave, and heavy metal, featuring artists such as Elvis Costello, Madness, Ian Dury, and Motörhead. The documentary will include new stories about notable figures like Ian Dury.

The BBC has responded by defending its commitment to punk music. A spokesperson pointed to BBC 6 Music, which launched in 2020 and has continued to feature punk artists across its schedule, including both classic bands like The Clash, The Ramones, and The Damned, and newer acts such as Amyl and the Sniffers and IDLES. While 6 Music has recently incorporated more electronic and dance genres, its programming continues to highlight punk from various eras.

Meanwhile, the BBC Sounds platform recently introduced Indie Forever, a music stream focusing on guitar-driven rock from the 1980s through the 2010s, a period that somewhat bypasses punk’s initial breakthrough in the late 1970s.

As Boom Radio expands its offerings to include punk rock, it further positions itself as an alternative destination for older listeners seeking a wider range of vintage and alternative music styles than currently found on mainstream stations.