Howard Stern, the self-proclaimed 'King of All Media', has seen his SiriusXM contract cancelled in a shock move, according to reports. The controversial radio host's $500 million deal with the satellite radio giant expires at the end of the year, and sources indicate that the two parties will not renew.
Stern's audience has declined markedly in recent years, as he faces increased competition from podcasters like Joe Rogan and Alex Cooper. His YouTube page saw unique viewers drop from 4.5 million in June 2024 to 3.1 million this June, according to Tubular Labs data. Meanwhile, SiriusXM lost 445,000 subscribers in 2023 and 296,000 in 2024.
The 'shock jock' was instrumental in Sirius's growth after joining in 2006, when the company had 600,000 subscribers. By 2020, that number had grown to 35 million. However, the rise of podcasts has eroded Stern's unique appeal, as analysts note that podcasters now enjoy similar freedom from censorship that Stern once sought on satellite radio.
Stern's career peaked in the 1990s and 2000s, when 20 million listeners tuned in for his outrageous content. He faced criticism for sexist and racist remarks but maintained a huge fanbase. His move to Sirius was driven by a desire to escape FCC censorship, but now his influence has waned as imitators have proliferated.
