Howard Stern began his career in radio over 50 years ago. He gained fame in the 1980s by pushing the boundaries with explicit language and sexual innuendo. After decades of tangling with the FCC, he moved to SiriusXM. Now America’s favorite “shock job” sparked cancellation rumors after firing a dozen staff members. Keep reading for all the details.
Howard Stern Fires Staff Amid Radio Show Cancellation Rumors
Howard Stern cost broadcasting companies millions in indecency fines from the FCC over his radio show content. The radio host finally had enough of the FCC’s attempt at censorship. He signed a lucrative contract with Sirius in 2004. Howard Stern signed a 5-year, $500 million contract with the satellite radio company. He was among the first to sign with Sirius.
Howard Stern was the most-listened-to radio host for years. He had 20 million listeners a day at the height of his fame. However, the rise of the podcast has seriously hurt his audience. Joe Rogan is now the most-listened-to podcast host.
Multiple outlets reported that nearly a dozen staff members were fired from The Howard Stern Show amid a change in format. The radio show is scaling back from three new episodes a week to just one. The change goes into effect for listeners after Labor Day.
The U.S. Sun reported that the mass firings included four fan-favorites. Benjy Bronk, Mike Trainor, Memet Walker, and Jon Blitt reportedly no longer work at The Howard Stern Show. Only Mike Trainor has confirmed his exit. “Hey now. My run on The Howard Stern Show ended this week after 12 amazing years (an eternity!),” he wrote on Twitter.
His Future At SiriusXM
Mass layoffs are rarely a good sign. The news sparked rumors that SiriusXM was canceling The Howard Stern Show. But the fate of the radio show was revealed months ago. Howard Stern resigned to keep his show on the air for at least three more years.
“I’m happy to announce that I figured out a way to have it all, more free time, and continuing to be on the radio,” Howard Stern said after signing a new three-year contract with SiriusXM. He will definitely have more free time now that his show will only air one new episode a week. Reruns and archived shows will air the rest of the week.
After 50 years in radio, Howard Stern, 72, is ready to cut back his work schedule. Could retirement be around the corner? Share your thoughts on the future of the radio show in the comments.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
