The indie-focused station is already building a following with its no-presenter, music-led format.
Xenon Radio will begin broadcasting across the Poole and Purbeck digital radio area on Sunday, June 21, coinciding with World Music Day.
Founded by local broadcaster Carl Greenham, the station will focus on indie music from the 1990s and 2000s, targeting listeners looking for an alternative to mainstream formats.
The station launched online earlier this year and has already built an audience across the UK, with listeners tuning in via its website, smart speakers and mobile devices.
Unlike many commercial stations, Xenon does not carry traditional advert breaks. Instead, it offers sponsorship around specific features and programming.
Carl said the aim from the outset was to create a distinctive sound.
“From day one, the vision was simple. Great music, strong branding, no presenters, no waffle and no following the crowd. It’s radio with attitude,” he said.
The move to DAB will significantly extend the station’s reach, bringing it to listeners across Poole, Wareham, Swanage and surrounding areas.
It also marks a notable development for local radio, with Xenon becoming one of the few independently founded Dorset stations to secure a place on the Poole and Purbeck multiplex.
Carl, who has more than a decade of experience in local broadcasting, said the launch was a personal milestone.
“Bringing Xenon onto DAB is one of the proudest moments of my broadcasting career,” he said.
“Xenon started as an idea and is now broadcasting online, on smart speakers and mobile devices. Seeing that vision become reality is incredibly rewarding.”
He previously founded Weymouth’s first full-time community radio station in 2012 and has worked with broadcasters across Dorset as a consultant.
“Back in 2012, I founded Weymouth’s first full-time community radio station. This weekend, I’ll bring another Weymouth-based radio station onto DAB.
“Xenon has shown me what can be achieved when you’re free to make decisions and stay true to the original vision. Too many stations lose their identity trying to please everyone.”
Since going live online, the station has attracted listeners from across the UK and beyond, highlighting continued demand for music-led radio.
The DAB launch gives Xenon potential access to hundreds of thousands of listeners across east Dorset.
“Xenon isn’t for everyone, and that’s exactly the point,” Carl added.
“The best radio stations have personality. They stand for something. I’d rather build a station people genuinely love than one that simply blends into the background.”
Xenon Radio launches on DAB this Sunday and will continue to be available online at xenonradio.co.uk, as well as via smart speakers and mobile devices.