Howard Stern’s SiriusXM show is reportedly reducing staff ahead of another programming shift. The changes come as Stern prepares to scale back his schedule after Labor Day.
What We Know: Howard Stern has laid off roughly a dozen staffers from his SiriusXM program. He is preparing to air just one new show each week after Labor Day. Employees learned of the cuts during a Monday Zoom meeting, Barrett Media has learned. Those employees were sent home with severance packages based on their tenure. The remainder of the weekly schedule is expected to rely heavily on Stern’s extensive archive. Stern signed a new three-year agreement with SiriusXM in December. That came after saying the deal would provide him with greater “flexibility” while allowing him to remain on the air.
What’s At Stake: The reported layoffs signal another evolution for one of radio’s most influential brands. Although Stern’s new contract keeps him at SiriusXM, producing just one original show per week would significantly reduce new content for subscribers. Additionally, the staffing reductions could reshape how one of satellite radio’s signature programs operates going forward.
What Remains Unclear: Neither Stern nor SiriusXM has publicly addressed the reported staffing changes or confirmed the move to a once-weekly schedule. It’s also unknown exactly how many employees were affected or whether additional departures could follow. SiriusXM has not responded to Barrett Media’s request for comment as of publication.
What It Means: Stern has steadily embraced a lighter workload in recent years, and these reported changes appear consistent with the flexibility he discussed after signing his latest contract. Meanwhile, SiriusXM now faces the challenge of balancing one of its biggest personalities’ evolving schedule with subscriber expectations while relying more heavily on one of radio’s deepest content libraries.
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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.