Howard Stern, SiriusXM: New Deal or Not?

A Long Island Newsday article dives into speculation about Howard Stern’s future with SiriusXM as his five-year, $500 million contract nears its expiration at the end of 2025. The piece explores rumors sparked by an August 5 report from The Sun (U.K.), which claimed, based on an anonymous source, that SiriusXM would not renew Stern’s contract, suggesting the company would offer a deal he was unlikely to accept due to financial disagreements. This report fueled widespread speculation, amplified by other tabloids, about whether "The Howard Stern Show," a fixture on SiriusXM since 2006, might be canceled after nearly two decades.

The article highlights the recurring nature of such rumors, noting they often surface during Stern’s contract negotiations, potentially even fanned by his own team to generate buzz. For instance, a 2020 rumor cited by former Stern intern Steve Grillo suggested Stern was "pretty much done," yet he renewed his contract that year. The Newsday piece points out that Stern, then 71, was on a month-long summer hiatus and planned to address these rumors on his return to air on September 2, 2025, as teased in a dramatic promo posted by "The Howard Stern Show" on X, promising to answer “all the questions” and reveal “all the truths.”

Several factors fuel the speculation. Financially, Stern’s reported $100 million annual salary is a significant expense for SiriusXM, especially as the company faces stagnant subscriber growth (around 33 million) and competition from podcasts and platforms like Spotify. Some sources suggest SiriusXM might not justify the cost, especially given Stern’s reported drop in daily listeners to 125,000 from a peak of 20 million during his terrestrial radio days. However, a conflicting report claimed Stern had already signed a new “monster payday” deal, dismissing cancellation rumors as “pure theater.”

The article also touches on Stern’s evolving public persona and political stances, which have stirred controversy. 

SiriusXM’s strategy has been diversifying its talent roster with high-profile podcast deals, like those for “SmartLess” and “Call Her Daddy,” to prepare for a post-Stern era. Even if Stern retires, SiriusXM retains rights to his extensive audio and video archive until 2027, ensuring his content remains available. The article suggests that while Stern’s departure would impact subscribers—estimated in 2020 to potentially cost SiriusXM 2.7 million listeners—the company is poised to pivot.

We should know the future on Tuesday, Sept 2, according to a previous reports quoting Stern.