For over a year, signs have pointed to SiriusXM not renewing Howard Stern’s massive contract, with staffers admitting to “coasting” at work and seeking new opportunities, according to two current employees who spoke to The NYPost.
Reports suggest Stern’s 19-year tenure at SiriusXM is nearing its end, with his $500 million contract expiring in 2025 and his daily audience reportedly shrinking. Some writers are saving their best material for future projects, anticipating the show’s demise, one staffer said.“We’ve been coasting for the last year, knowing he’s retiring—whether by choice or not,” a longtime employee confessed.
“The [New York City radio] industry is so tight-knit, you never know who’s talking to whom,” they added.
The first staffer, a fan of the show, said, “I’m holding on until this is resolved, then I’ll take time to decompress. It’s been a big part of my life, but it hasn’t been fun lately.”
Stern’s shift in political stance has also drawn attention. Once friendly with President Trump and a supporter of Republicans like Rudy Giuliani and George Pataki, Stern opposed Trump in 2015 and backed Biden and Harris.
“Whether it’s wokeness or just getting tamer with age, his audience isn’t into it anymore,” the second staffer said, suggesting Stern’s political shift was to align with Hollywood elites.
“He’s happy in the Hamptons with his celebrity friends,” the first staffer noted. “Being liked by famous people seems to matter more than his legacy.” Stern earned the nickname “Hollywood Howie” for mingling with stars like Jimmy Kimmel, Jennifer Aniston, Jerry Seinfeld, and John Stamos in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Since COVID, Stern has become “a hermit,” broadcasting from his Southampton basement, the second staffer said. “He hasn’t been the same, and it’s sad to see how irrelevant he’s become.”