SiriusXM CEO Backs Howard Stern Amid Contract Rumors

SiriusXM’s leadership is keen on keeping Howard Stern on the air, provided a mutually agreeable deal can be reached, despite speculation about the radio icon’s potential retirement.

At a Bank of America conference on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, SiriusXM President and Chief Content Officer Scott Greenstein praised Stern, 71, as “the best interviewer out there, bar none,” and a “lightning rod” for boosting the company’s visibility. 

Greenstein noted that contract negotiations with a figure of Stern’s stature are routine, expressing optimism about ongoing talks: “We’ve been pretty lucky all these years. We’d love them to stay. It has to make sense, but we feel pretty good that we’ve done this before, and we’ll see where it goes.”

CEO Jennifer Witz echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Stern’s “core” role at SiriusXM for over two decades and confidence in reaching a fair agreement. 

Stern’s current contract, set to expire this fall, has fueled rumors since August that the Howard Stern Show might end. 

An insider told the US Sun that SiriusXM may balk at Stern’s salary demands, stating, “Sirius and Stern are never going to meet on the money he is going to want. It’s no longer worth the investment.”

Stern’s history with SiriusXM includes a landmark $500 million, five-year deal signed in 2004, effective from 2006, followed by another five-year contract for the same amount in 2020. Past rumors of a $120 million annual payday were dismissed by Stern and his agent as “baffling.”