Howard Stern Staff Quietly Preparing for Exit as SiriusXM Future Hangs in Balance
Zoe Bennett reporting: The facts matter. Let’s break down the key events and their implications.
Insiders say the writing has been visible for more than a year that Howard Stern’s longtime run on SiriusXM may be winding down, and staffers are already adjusting behavior and careers accordingly. Two current show employees told the New York Post in recent interviews that morale has slumped, top material is being hoarded for future projects, and staff are quietly courting new opportunities as Stern’s $500 million contract approaches its end later this year. Those conversations come amid public reporting that the Howard Stern Show’s daily audience has sharply contracted from an estimated 20 million in its peak broadcast era to roughly 125,000 on SiriusXM.
Sources who spoke on the record with the Post described a workplace in slow retreat. “Most of us have been coasting at work the last year,” one longtime staffer said, adding that writers are saving their best jokes “for themselves” to use if the program ultimately concludes. Another employee confirmed staffers have been “putting out feelers” to media contacts around New York City, noting the industry’s tight-knit nature complicates job searches and networking. Both employees characterized the current atmosphere as a holding pattern: staying on payroll while assessing next steps once Stern’s status is clarified by management.
Those inside observations align with other public indicators suggesting a shift in Stern’s career arc. Stern, now 71, has hinted privately during staff meetings that retirement may be near, and he routinely takes an extended summer break. Staffers told the Post they have heard only rumors from SiriusXM leadership and limited direct guidance from Stern, leaving employees uncertain about the timeline and terms if his contract is not renewed.
Multiple sources pointed to factors that may have contributed to the show’s decline. Longtime staffers cited Stern’s evolving political stance as one issue: once friendly with several Republican figures, Stern pivoted publicly during the 2015 political cycle and has since been identified with more liberal, Hollywood-facing opinions. Staffers suggested this shift — along with a perceived softening in his interviewing and comedy style — may have alienated portions of his traditional audience.
Another major variable is Stern’s post-pandemic work habits. Employees described the host’s production setup in Southampton as more solitary, noting he frequently broadcasts from his home basement and has pulled back from the public grind. That transition, combined with personal losses — family members, longtime friends, and an agent over the past few years — has, according to staff, affected Stern’s passion for the show. “When your boss doesn’t even seem like he wants to be there, it’s like, why should I bust my ass?” one source told the Post.
From a business angle, the calculus is stark. Stern’s contract is expensive, and SiriusXM faces subscriber and content pressures in a streaming-first market. Declining audience numbers, if sustained, create a natural case for re-evaluating costly talent deals. Yet Stern remains a high-profile brand with residual value: his archive, spin-offs, and potential migration to other platforms would be commercially significant for years.
For the staff, the immediate response has been pragmatic: conserve creative capital, maintain paychecks, and quietly scout alternatives. The posture makes sense for seasoned media professionals navigating an uncertain executive decision at a single-company show. It also signals a broader trend in legacy media: star-driven franchises can dwindle quickly when the star’s output, public persona, or marketplace fit shifts.
Neither Stern nor SiriusXM provided comment to the Post. Given the financial stakes and Stern’s cultural imprint, any formal announcement of retirement or non-renewal would likely prompt rapid industry movement: talent shifts, bidding interest, and audience churn. For now, the show’s backstage reality is one of muted activity and careful planning, as employees brace for change while keeping their options open.
That’s the current landscape: reported staff unease, a cooling audience, and expensive contract timing converging. More updates will follow as developments emerge.
Stay informed, stay critical, and follow the facts.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, SiriusXM (public reports)
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
