Pay-radio operator SiriusXM may have lost its star broadcasting attraction in the form of ‘shock jock’ Howard Stern.

There are mixed reports, the gentlest being that Stern and SiriusXM have as yet failed to make an agreement over his $100 million per year contract. The other reports say Stern (aged 71) was tiring of the daily grind (his show starts at 7am). Others say that SiriusXM was keen to change the format while keeping him on the pay-roll, but at a lower fee.

The negotiations – if they can be resurrected – may pivot to licensing Stern’s back catalogue, shorter-term contracts, or alternative platforms. Stern himself hinted at these possibilities, and despite occasional past talks/threats of retirement, recent remarks suggest he may be reluctant to let his voice be silenced entirely.

“What pisses me off is now I can’t leave,” Stern said on September 8th. “I’ve been thinking about retiring. Now I can’t because then they’ll say I was pushed out. So, I’ll be back.”

He said his team was engaged in “fantastic” conversations with SiriusXM about what’s next despite “completely false” reports to the contrary.

Stern helped define SiriusXM’s early identity as a boundary-pushing talk radio platform. His leap from terrestrial radio to satellite in 2006 was transformative, bringing millions of listeners to the SiriusXM.

Since signing Stern, SiriusXM’s has had to compete for listeners with a myriad of other platforms including podcasts and livestreams. The company experienced a net loss of 100,000 subscribers between 2024 and 2025, but still reports around 33 million paid listeners.

However, the news and confusion has not gone done well with all listeners, and in particular staff at SiriusXM who work on the show. One insider said, that many staffers support families and believe layoffs could come at any time, commenting: “Fear has sunk in that next week, next month, they might not have a job.”

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Tags: Howard Stern, radio, siriusXM