SiriusXM Considers Ending Stern’s Live Run
Howard Stern’s run at SiriusXM looks like it’s heading for a major shift. After almost 20 years as the anchor voice of the platform, Stern’s reign could end—not with another splashy live show contract, but with a behind-the-scenes archive deal instead. Word from the inside is that SiriusXM wants to pay for rights to his treasure trove of past broadcasts, but isn’t ready to spend big bucks on new live content.
Stern’s current contract, worth an eye-watering $100 million a year, wraps up at the tail end of 2025. This time, execs aren’t interested in shelling out another fortune. Sources inside SiriusXM say the company just isn’t up for the kind of paycheck Stern will likely want. With the media world tightening its belt and traditional radio losing ground, there’s an obvious incentive to cut back. Saving money now takes priority over keeping a live show—no matter how big a legend Stern is in radio history.
Why SiriusXM Is Pumping the Brakes
Why would SiriusXM back off from the guy who brought them millions of fans? For starters, the numbers are a lot different now. Back in Stern’s heyday, his audience was massive. Recently, though, his listener base is way down, swinging between 20 million and as low as 125,000 daily listeners. That’s a staggering drop for a show that’s always been known for its loyal fanbase. Coughing up nine figures a year doesn’t add up when the ears just aren’t tuning in like they used to.
Camp Stern isn’t exactly thrilled with the new vibe at SiriusXM. Insiders mention he’s less pleased with the network’s growing reliance on Andy Cohen, who’s started landing high-profile celebrity interviews and bigger promotional pushes. That sort of shift in strategy might feel like a demotion to Stern—and it could cool his interest in hammering out a new deal.
If all that’s not enough, politics is also in the mix. Stern’s public beefs with Donald Trump and Trump’s return fire have added another layer of drama, complicating his relationship with some of SiriusXM’s decision makers—not to mention listeners who’ve soured on his political commentary.
SiriusXM, in response, is thinking about its future in a different way. Instead of handing Stern another bank-busting deal for fresh content, the network’s goal is to hang onto his archive—hundreds of hours packed with classic celebrity rants, jaw-dropping interviews, and those headline-making moments only Stern could deliver. These old shows are gold for loyal subscribers who want to binge the best of the past, and SiriusXM gets to stay connected to Stern’s legacy—without overextending itself financially.
Right now, everything’s still up in the air. The clock is ticking as Stern’s contract nears its expiration, but one thing’s clear: SiriusXM isn’t seeing the future in live shock-radio—it’s betting the bank on nostalgia. Whether Stern himself will go for a backseat archive role is anyone’s guess, but for now, listeners are watching to see if this era of unscripted radio finally signs off for good.
