SiriusXM has dropped Howard Stern’s Howard 101 channel, a move that follows a reported layoff of approximately a dozen staffers earlier this summer. The broadcasting platform announced notable changes to its channel lineup, including the relocation of Andy Cohen’s Radio Andy program from channel 102 to channel 101, which will now replace Howard 101.
Howard 100, another channel dedicated to Stern's content, will continue to be available on channel 100. Representatives for Howard Stern did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The channel change comes more than a month after reports surfaced detailing Stern’s decision to lay off about 12 employees. These layoffs, which were reportedly communicated via Zoom, were said to be in preparation for a shift to a single show per week, beginning after Labor Day. Affected employees were allegedly sent home immediately after the calls and were to receive severance packages based on their tenure with the company.
Sources suggested that some staffers were offered approximately one week of pay for each year of service, while others were reportedly negotiating their exits and felt the packages were acceptable. Stern’s current three-year contract with SiriusXM, signed in December 2025, is described by Stern as allowing him more flexibility and free time while continuing his radio presence. His previous five-year contract was reportedly valued at $500 million.
Stern’s wife, Beth Stern, commented on his new schedule on Andy Cohen's SiriusXM show, stating that it appeared to be working well for him. Earlier this year, Stern faced a lawsuit from a former assistant alleging a hostile work environment. The suit was dismissed in its entirety by a New York State Supreme Court judge in July.
Recently, Stern, 72, and his wife, 54, attended a SiriusXM performance by John Mayer in the Hamptons, appearing alongside other celebrities like Brooke Shields and Andy Cohen. This public appearance marked a rare outing for the couple, whose last known public event was the launch of the “Maximum Metallica” channel on SiriusXM in August 2025.
Prior to these developments, reports from The Sun indicated that female staffers at SiriusXM were allegedly instructed not to wear sneakers at work and to keep them hidden under their desks when executives were present. The same report also claimed that employees were warned not to speak to Stern at company parties, with some allegedly being fired for doing so, contributing to an environment described as "cultish."