Howard Stern, the King of All Media, back on his SiriusXM show. In fact, fans on social media were already debating what his next move would be during his short absence from broadcasting. Stern has delighted listeners and audiences since the 1980s with his fiery, outrageous approach to topics and controversial interviews. He initially came to national prominence during his tenure at WXRK in New York. His return comes at a critical juncture for SiriusXM. The losses have been compounded by the company’s ongoing slump in its core subscriber business, now at just 33 million at Q2 2025.
At 71 years old, Stern returned to satellite radio for Sirius Satellite Radio in 2006. As the king of satellite radio, he reshaped the industry through his bold programming and candid conversations. He obnoxiously paraded naked women and strippers through his so-called studio. He persuaded the band, now known as The Chicks, to reveal raw, emotional truths about their personal lives. These former on-air segments have made Stern’s career. In doing so, they reveal his great skill at marrying humor with shock.
Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s president and chief content officer, emphasized Stern’s unique position within the company. The point he made, that “nobody will ever replace Howard Stern,” speaks to the central importance that Stern has had during almost twenty years of work. Greenstein added, “He’s been with me and the company going on two decades, and so he’s pretty happy, but he’s able, like many great artists, to stop whenever he wants.”
Stern’s deep impact extends well beyond the radio airwaves. He’s published a string of bestselling works, and been the lead of the film, “Private Parts,” that detailed his success with comedic flair since debuting in 1997. Additionally, he served as a judge on “America’s Got Talent” from 2012 to 2015, further solidifying his presence in mainstream entertainment.
Over the years, Stern conducted probing and personal conversations with a wide variety of A-listers, from Lady Gaga to Bruce Springsteen. It’s interviews like these that have made the show a space for honest discussion on both important and less serious topics. At its height, “The Howard Stern Show” was available in 60 markets and had more than 20 million listeners.
Despite these obstacles, including bloody indecency dogfights with the Federal Communications Commission and skittish radio magnates, Stern was undeterred. His fateful decision to go on satellite radio was motivated by a big check and the guarantee of less interference. He renewed his contract with SiriusXM for two additional two-year periods. First, he extended it in 2010, then again in 2020, locking in a five-year extension valued at $500 million.
As he returns to a full-time schedule with his show, fans are waiting to hear what else Stern has in store for listeners. As we’ve seen, the radio landscape is changing even more quickly. Podcasts like “Call Her Daddy,” “SmartLess,” and “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” are booming and capturing ears. To rebut his occasional critics, Stern’s legacy is very much secure – an undisputed, broadcasting game-changing force.
