SAEDNEWS: Howard Stern has not walked away from SiriusXM — he’s in talks about a new contract and staged a prank that sent media outlets and fans into a frenzy. What looked like an abrupt exit was largely misreported; the host later clarified he is negotiating terms, remains “very happy at Sirius,” and that recent absence was due to illness.
Contrary to several headlines that suggested Howard Stern had abruptly left or been dropped by SiriusXM, the radio veteran is actively negotiating a new deal with the satellite company and is not gone from the airwaves. Multiple outlets reporting on the rumor later corrected course after Stern and his team made public comments and a staged on-air gag made clear the situation was not a straightforward departure.
The confusion escalated after an early-morning bit in which Andy Cohen briefly played the role of a successor — jokingly announcing the channel had been rebranded as “Andy 100.” The gag, planned by Stern, initially fooled some listeners and several news organisations, and prompted a wave of premature reports that Stern had been replaced or was retiring. Stern later revealed the prank on air and explained that his recent absence from the show stemmed from illness rather than a contract standoff.
In public comments posted to the show’s official X account and repeated in interviews, Stern said he and his representatives have been “talking” with SiriusXM about future plans. He described ongoing discussions as routine and said he is “very happy at Sirius,” while acknowledging that the speculation around his contract attracted other potential suitors interested in acquiring his show or archive. Stern framed the situation as a negotiation — not a termination — even as outlets parsed the implications of his $100M-plus historical deals and shifting platform economics.
Stern’s long relationship with SiriusXM (he moved to satellite radio in the early-2000s and has been a marquee voice for nearly two decades) and the high value of his historical deals have made any contract talk into front-page copy. Industry observers point to changing listener habits, rising podcast competition, and costly talent deals across the platform as context for why a renegotiation — or any hint of instability — draws intense attention. That commercial backdrop helps explain why rumours metastasised so quickly.
Reporting in recent weeks also spotlighted friction between Stern and some younger SiriusXM talent, most notably podcaster Alex Cooper. Rumours that Stern had publicly opposed Cooper’s hire were amplified on social media, adding another layer to coverage about Stern’s place at the company. Stern has said he supports efforts that will attract subscribers and acknowledged he has ownership interests that inform his outlook; the interpersonal angle fueled speculation but did not change the central fact that contract discussions were ongoing.
Fan reaction to the prank and to the contract rumours was mixed: some listeners praised the stunt’s audacity, others called it irresponsible for causing needless worry. Industry commentators and competing outlets used the moment to revisit the economics of premium audio and examine whether SiriusXM can continue to justify very large legacy contracts amid evolving ad and subscription markets. The episode served as a reminder that talent transitions and platform strategies remain a live battleground for audio networks.
