Howard Stern has reduced his SiriusXM staff by about a dozen employees as he prepares to broadcast one new show per week following his summer break. The changes come after Stern signed a new contract in December, which he stated would offer him greater flexibility.
Sources familiar with the situation reported that staffers were informed of the changes during a Zoom call on Monday. Following the call, employees were sent home and will receive severance packages based on their tenure with the company. A core team of veteran producers remains, with the explanation that less content is now required. The remaining broadcast time is expected to be filled with archived material from Stern’s extensive library.
Details of the new contract's financial terms were not disclosed, but his previous five-year agreement was reportedly valued at $500 million.
The radio personality, who has been on the air for nearly five decades, previously fueled speculation about his future in late summer of the previous year. He had announced on Labor Day evening that he would not be returning to the air as scheduled after the holiday, with reports at the time suggesting this was due to frustration over contract negotiations. He later addressed the situation on his show after re-signing for another three years in December, stating he had found a way to "have it all" by securing "more free time and continuing to be on the radio."
Hebis wife, Beth Stern, commented on his new schedule in December, telling Andy Cohen that it appeared to be working well. She suggested that continuing his show provided him with an outlet and kept him connected, while also offering him more free time, which he values. Stern, 72, began his on-air career in 1977 and became known for pioneering the shock jock format before moving to Sirius in 2006.
Representatives for SiriusXM did not immediately respond to requests for comment.