Howard Stern Show Faces Contract Uncertainty Amid Listener Decline

Howard Stern's long-running SiriusXM radio show is facing rumors of cancellation and firing, but multiple insiders claim these reports are a deliberate hoax orchestrated by Stern's own team to generate publicity and boost his declining listener numbers. Despite Stern discovering some of these rumors through Google Alerts, he has assured fans he will return from his summer break as planned on September 2, using the occasion to address the firing speculation. The show's audience has dramatically decreased from 20 million weekly listeners in the 1990s to approximately 125,000 today, prompting concerns over Stern's relevance. Stern's previous five-year contract with SiriusXM, reportedly worth $500 million, ends this year, and sources suggest the company does not intend to meet his salary demands for renewal. Insiders also reveal Stern has alienated significant portions of his audience, particularly Trump supporters, and plans to use the upcoming show to attempt a reinvention and regain lost listeners. While SiriusXM and Stern's representatives have not commented publicly, the situation highlights the challenges Stern faces maintaining his status amid evolving audience dynamics.