If reports are to be believed, the days of Howard Stern being a pivotal player at SiriusXM are numbered.
Stern’s contract is set to expire later this year, and he isn’t expected to come to an extension with SiriusXM.
“Sirius and Stern are never going to meet on the money he is going to want. It’s no longer worth the investment,” a source told British tabloid The Sun about the contract negotiations between the two.
Howard Stern joined the company in 2006 after a 20-year run at WXRK in New York, where his show was nationally syndicated with more than 60 affiliates. Few, if any, have played a bigger role in the satellite radio company reaching the heights it has.
There will be plenty of time to examine what Stern’s radio legacy, both at SiriusXM and on terrestrial radio, looks like.
But there’s a more pressing question: Where does Howard Stern go next?
Spotify
Howard Stern doesn’t want to do a daily show anymore — and Spotify doesn’t require one. That’s the beginning of the conversation.
Spotify has clearly shown it’s willing to bet big on audio personalities who don’t produce content five days a week. Joe Rogan uploads a few times per week, Call Her Daddy drops new shows weekly, and even Bill Simmons is selective with his podcast output. The platform seems more interested in exclusive, high-profile voices than in high-volume production schedules. That flexibility could be exactly what Howard Stern is looking for.
Stern has been open about his growing fatigue with the daily grind. His current SiriusXM deal, while lucrative, still comes with the expectation of a near-daily schedule for part of the year. Spotify’s model might allow Stern to increase his relevance with younger audiences. It could also control potential burnout.
What Spotify would gain is obvious: a marquee name with unmatched brand equity in spoken-word audio. Stern still draws headlines, moves audiences, and brings credibility in a way few others can. And for Stern, it’s an exit ramp from the satellite world and a reentry into a platform that has no hesitation about letting its stars control the cadence.
Spotify doesn’t need Howard Stern to do a show every day. They need Howard Stern to be Howard Stern. That might be a deal both sides could live with.
iHeartMedia
Howard Stern has always been a larger-than-life radio figure—and iHeartRadio has built its empire by collecting exactly those kinds of names.
From Ryan Seacrest and Bobby Bones to Premiere Networks staples like Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck, iHeartMedia has consistently prioritized star power. Adding Stern to that roster wouldn’t just be a natural fit—it would be a strategic one. He’s a once-in-a-generation talent with an unmatched ability to command attention, and iHeart has the infrastructure to amplify it.
More importantly, iHeart isn’t squeamish about strong personalities. Keith Olbermann has a prominent home on the platform. So does Charlamagne tha God. The company has shown it’s more than willing to host controversial voices from both ends of the political and cultural spectrum, so concerns over Stern’s edgier moments wouldn’t be a dealbreaker.
And with the iHeartRadio app continuing to evolve as a destination for both live radio and on-demand content, Stern could thrive in both formats. He could be the perfect guinea pig for the company to see if audiences will tune in when he goes live. And he can also drop podcast-style shows when he doesn’t. There’s flexibility, scale, and a company ethos that values brand-name talent.
Stern’s time at SiriusXM may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean his time in audio is. If iHeart wants to make the biggest move it’s made in years, Stern might be sitting right there, ready to talk.
NBC/Peacock
Peacock needs content — and not just sports programming. It could really use something different, something loud, something people will actually talk about. That’s where Howard Stern comes in.
NBC already has a history with Stern. He spent four seasons as a judge on America’s Got Talent, where the network had no issue promoting him in prime time. Stern was unpredictable, sharp, and — most importantly– watchable. He gave AGT credibility and edge. Now, I know that you could argue Stern has changed wildly since 2015. But that relationship could easily be rekindled in a way that makes sense for where both sides are now.
Imagine a weekly Peacock-exclusive Stern series where he does what he does best: long-form interviews with celebrities, politicians, musicians, and newsmakers. Not a daily radio show. Not a reboot of what he’s done before. Just Howard in a studio, sitting across from the biggest names in the world, going deep like only he can.
Peacock doesn’t have a signature non-sports personality right now. Howard Stern could give Peacock its first must-watch original that isn’t tied to live sports or next-day NBC content.
And for Stern, it’s a way to stay in the game without grinding five days a week. With name recognition, a platform that needs him, and creative freedom on the table — there’s a lane here that makes more sense than people might think.
X
If Elon Musk truly believes X is the last bastion of free speech, there’s no better person to prove it than Howard Stern.
Stern’s political leanings have turned off many of his old-school fans—and likely Elon Musk himself. But if Musk is serious about building a platform where every voice is welcome, even those who criticize him, highlighting someone like Stern would be a bold, values-first move.
Stern might never even entertain the idea. He’s been openly critical of Musk, and the feeling might be mutual. But the reality is, there are very few platforms on the planet that could offer Stern the kind of check—or creative latitude—he’d require to make a move. X is one of them.
A show from Howard Stern could cut through in a way nothing else on the platform does right now.
For Musk, it’s a way to show that X isn’t just a clubhouse for one side of the political aisle. For Stern, it’s a potential blank canvas with nearly unlimited reach—and money.
The idea feels far-fetched, sure. But Howard Stern doesn’t need conventional. He needs power, reach, and flexibility. Musk could give him all three.
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Ultimately, it’s probably most likely that Howard Stern does what basically everyone else does these days: launches a YouTube channel.
Because — and SiriusXM might not want to hear this — really, Howard Stern doesn’t need a company. He is the company.
After decades of corporate partnerships, the most likely move post-SiriusXM is independence via YouTube. No bosses, no filters, no restrictions. Just Howard doing what he wants, when he wants. He could broadcast weekly, upload clips whenever, and monetize through ads, memberships, and sponsors.
Stern already has the name recognition, the equipment, and the audience. Why split revenue with someone else when he can control it all himself? The play here isn’t a flashy new partnership — it’s a clean break and a YouTube channel with full creative freedom and zero red tape.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
