Stern, who apparently takes the entire summer off -- are you kidding me? -- is wondering if he should retire. He had fifteen good years in his fifty year career, and they were all thirty years ago.
Legendary radio host Howard Stern faces an uncertain future at SiriusXM as his five-year, $500 million contract winds down, according reports.
The 71-year-old shock jock would be open to a short-term contract if the price is right, but he's also considering calling it quits with SiriusXM, as first reported by the Sun.
"He may do a one- to two-year contract if they can meet him where he wants financially. He doesn't want to pull the plug on his employees like this," one source told the Daily Mail.
Sure, he's thinking about other people's feelings. That is just Classic Stern (TM).
"He is off in the summer but this year has been saying 'Maybe I should retire,'" another source told the outlet.
Reportedly, this vain, ugly ghoul is upset that SiriusXM has another big "star" (is anyone on Serius really a "star"?) and he's not top dog.
The insider noted that Stern is irritated with SiriusXM's reliance on competing radio star Andy Cohen.
Another source said Stern is even thinking about "parting ways" with SiriusXM.
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The host's reputation has flip-flopped over the years between being regarded as an awe-inspiring dominator who could pry anything out of any guest and an out-of-touch has-been.
Well, it "flipped." It never flopped back. You need the flopping part for a flip-flop.
Stern has struggled to clarify his identity over the last few years while insisting that he is "woke" and simultaneously doing layup interviews with people like former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris despite leaning Republican earlier in his storied career.
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Stern's show doesn't pull in nearly as many listeners as it used to, especially compared to Cohen's two channels. Stern's program has fluctuated from 20 million daily to just 125,000 of late.
That's not a "fluctuation," that is an absolute collapse.
Again, a fluctuation requires the flux to go back the other way. If you don't have the flow back to the previous condition, what you've got yourself right there is a simple collapse.
Does anyone in the written media know how to write? Do they know what words mean?
Sirius and Stern stopped releasing Stern's ratings in 2020. Stern has always bragged about his ratings more than even Donald Trump, so if the ratings are now an absolute corporate secret, they're terrible.
ThatParkPlace says that Sirius no longer believes he's worth the $100/year investment.
In other words, their reportage is more that Sirius wants done with Stern, unlike the NY Post report which claims Stern is making the decision to retire entirely of his own volition.
Sources indicate that The Howard Stern Show is set to be canceled on SiriusXM as the shock jock's lucrative contract approaches its expiration this fall. The 71-year-old radio icon, who has been a cornerstone of the satellite radio platform since 2006, may not see his five-year deal renewed amid reports of financial disagreements and shifting priorities at the company.
According to insights shared with multiple outlets, SiriusXM is preparing an offer for Stern but does not anticipate him accepting it, primarily due to insurmountable gaps in salary negotiations.
Stern's current contract, reportedly valued at around $100 million annually, has been a benchmark for high-profile media deals, but insiders claim the investment no longer aligns with the company's economic realities.
"Sirius and Stern are never going to meet on the money he is going to want," an insider source claimed. "It's no longer worth the investment."
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Cost-cutting appears to be a driving force behind the decision that could lead to Howard Stern being canceled. SiriusXM, facing broader industry challenges, has been reevaluating high-ticket talent contracts.
One could easily point to parallels to recent changes in late-night television, noting, "After you saw what happened with Stephen Colbert, it's like they just can't afford to keep him going."
This sentiment echoes reports of SiriusXM's reluctance to sustain Stern's salary, with sources emphasizing, "There's no way they can keep paying his salary."
Adding another layer, Stern's outspoken political views may be influencing the negotiations. A vocal critic of President Donald Trump, Stern has used his platform to mock conservative figures and hosted Vice President Kamala Harris for an interview ahead of the 2024 election--a move that drew backlash from Republicans.
"It's more likely everything to do with the political climate," another source suggested, implying that Stern's "woke" shift could be a factor in the company's hesitance.
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SiriusXM has ceased releasing Stern's ratings since 2020, reportedly due to a significant decline in listenership, with critics attributing this erosion to his increasingly "woke" persona and overt political commentary. This mirrors broader trends where outspoken anti-Trump celebrities encounter backlash, including audience boycotts and financial repercussions, as seen with figures like Stephen Colbert.
ThatParkPlace reports that Sirius' real offer is a much smaller deal to retain the rights to Stern's archives of old shows, while no longer paying him for his new, unfunny crap.
Stern has proclaimed he "hates" Trump voters -- aka his prior audience.
In 2024, Stern declared he "hates" Trump voters, calling them "stupid" and questioning their intelligence.
He said he didn't mind losing half his listeners if Trump supporters stopped listening to his show.
Stern claimed Trump "despises" his own supporters, suggesting they wouldn't fit in at Mar-a-Lago.
Following the 2024 election, Stern expressed fear that America wasn't ready to elect a woman president like Kamala Harris, implying Trump's victory reflected societal biases.
In 2023, Stern embraced his "woke" label, affirming he is anti-Trump.
Ba-ba-booey bye-bye.