Howard Stern Show may be canceled after 20 years as SiriusXM weighs renewal of $100M deal

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Howard Stern’s iconic 20-year run on SiriusXM is coming to an end, according to exclusive sources who revealed that the subscription radio giant does not plan to renew his massive contract this fall.

Stern, 71, is expected to exit after his current five-year deal wraps up. Insiders say SiriusXM may try to retain rights to his vast show catalogue but has no intention of meeting his likely financial demands for a new show deal.

SiriusXM not expected to renew Howard Stern’s contract

“Stern's contract is up in the fall, and while Sirius is planning to make him an offer, they don't intend for him to take it," a source told The US Sun. “Sirius and Stern are never going to meet on the money he is going to want. It's no longer worth the investment."

Though SiriusXM may pursue a licensing agreement for Stern’s archives, sources confirmed that the satellite radio provider is not expected to continue paying the host’s steep salary.

“But as far as him coming back to doing the show, there's no way they can keep paying his salary,” the insider added. 

Another source claimed that the decision has more to do with Stern’s political positioning than his ratings.

"If Sirius isn't going to give Stern a good offer, I don't think it would have anything to do with his ratings," they said. "It's more likely everything to do with the political climate."

Stern, a vocal critic of Donald Trump, also hosted Kamala Harris during her 2024 presidential campaign, a move that was widely criticized by Republicans after Harris reportedly avoided more mainstream media outlets.

Howard Stern slams Donald Trump and his voters

Multiple sources have said that Howard Stern’s outspoken political commentary, particularly his criticism of Donald Trump and the broader political atmosphere—could be a key reason SiriusXM is hesitating to renew his contract.

“After you saw what happened with Stephen Colbert, it’s like they just can’t afford to keep him going,” one source said, referring to Colbert’s recent exit from the air.

Another insider added that if SiriusXM ultimately passes on bringing Stern back, it’s unlikely to be due to his performance metrics. “If Sirius isn’t going to give Stern a good offer, I don’t think it would have anything to do with his ratings,” the source claimed. “It’s more likely everything to do with the political climate.”

Before the 2024 election, Stern made headlines for taking a direct swipe at Trump and his supporters, saying on-air: “I don’t agree with Trump politically, I don’t think he should be anywhere near the White House. I don’t hate the guy. I hate the people who vote for him. I think they’re stupid. I do. I’ll be honest with you, I have no respect for you.”

Howard Stern’s legacy: From shock jock to interview legend

Stern’s rise to radio stardom began in the 1980s with a two-decade run at New York City's WXRK, where his show gained national syndication and peaked with 20 million listeners across 60 markets.

He joined SiriusXM in 2006 and transitioned from taboo-breaking “shock jock” to master interviewer. Over the years, he hosted intimate, revealing conversations with guests ranging from Lady Gaga to Bruce Springsteen.

Beyond radio, Stern found success with his 1997 autobiographical film 'Private Parts,' which recounted his turbulent journey through the broadcasting world. The film became a cult hit.

He also authored several books and served as a judge on 'America’s Got Talent' from 2012 to 2015.

Stern has been married to model and animal rights advocate Beth Ostrosky Stern since 2008. He shares three daughters, Emily, Debra, and Ashley, with ex-wife Alison Berns, to whom he was married from 1978 to 2001.