Is Howard Stern about to end his two-decade-plus run at SiriusXM? The popular radio personality says he will address reports that he’s been “fired” by the company on his show next month.
The rumors were kicked off by a report by the Sun U.K. tabloid, which, citing an anonymous “insider,” claimed SiriusXM would not renew Stern’s contract, which expires at the end of 2025. SiriusXM has declined to comment.
Now Stern is turning the swirling speculation into a tune-in opportunity. On Friday, “The Howard Stern Show” account on X posted a promo that said Stern will speak about his future at SiriusXM on his show Tuesday, Sept. 2. (Watch the full video below.)
The 45-second clip starts with quotes from TV commentators who have weighed in on the rumors: “The downfall of Howard Stern”; “The shock jock just got his walking papers from SiriusXM”; and “The guillotine is coming for Howard Stern.”
A narrator then says in a voiceover: “The tabloids have spoken. Howard Stern: Fired. Canceled.” It continues, “Is it really ‘Bye-Bye Booey’?” — a reference to the show’s longtime producer, Gary “Baba Booey” Dell’Abate.
“Chaos is swirling at ‘The Howard Stern Show,’” the teaser continues. “Did staffers talk to the press? Are writers withholding their best jokes? Nobody knows what’s going on — or who to trust.” The narrator concludes: “Now we can reveal all the questions will be answered. All the truths will be told by the one man truly on the inside: Howard Stern will speak. Tuesday, September 2.”
Stern has for years been the highest-paid radio personality, reportedly earning upwards of $100 million annually under his long-running SiriusXM contract. Stern first signed with the satellite radio outlet in 2004; his current contract expires at the end of 2025.
Regarding speculation Stern may not renew his deal, SiriusXM content chief Scott Greenstein said on the company’s earnings call in April 2024 that if a “singular talent” opts to retire, “you come up with a strategy of what is your current demo and your target audience and you look at what would be best suited for that at any given time.”
“No one pretended when Johnny Carson or others retired that the new group would replace them,” Greenstein said on a subsequent investor call. “They were just simply filling in on those slots. So Howard, we hope he continues forever… He continues to excel, get us awareness and everything else that goes with what he does.”
Listen to the “Stern Show” promo: