The media reaction to reports that Howard Stern’s contract with SiriusXM, reportedly worth $100 million annually, may not be renewed as it nears its expiration in December 2025 has been multifaceted, focusing on financial, cultural, and political factors, as well as Stern’s evolving public persona.
Multiple outlets, including The U.S. Sun, Fox News, The Independent, and WebProNews, emphasized SiriusXM’s financial constraints as a primary reason for not renewing Stern’s contract. His current deal, estimated at $80–120 million per year, is seen as unsustainable given SiriusXM’s reported subscriber decline (33.4 million paid subscribers in the latest quarter, down slightly from peaks) and cost-cutting measures targeting $200 million in annual savings by the end of 2025.
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A recurring theme across reports is the impact of Stern’s political outspokenness, particularly his criticism of Donald Trump and Trump voters, as well as his embrace of “woke” ideology. Fox News and The U.S. Sun reported that Stern’s political views, including his 2024 statement calling Trump voters “stupid” and his interview with Kamala Harris during the 2024 election, may have alienated some listeners and influenced SiriusXM’s decision.
The Independent noted that Stern’s shift from his “shock jock” roots to a more liberal, interview-focused format has drawn backlash, with figures like Kanye West calling him an “irrelevant old man.”
Several sources, including WebProNews and Daily Mail, pointed to Stern’s reduced cultural relevance and listener dissatisfaction. His reported 125,000 daily listeners are a sharp decline from his peak of 20 million during his terrestrial radio days. WebProNews cited Reddit’s r/howardstern community, where fans in 2023 expressed frustration over Stern’s reduced output (about 100 shows per year, often from home) and perceived lack of effort.