Photo Credit: Bill Norton / CC by 2.0
Howard Stern has signed a new contract with SiriusXM, putting an end to months of speculation over whether or not the legendary talk radio host would retire.
It’s been a busy few months for Howard Stern fans, as speculation abounded over whether the legendary radio host would be retiring once his contract with SiriusXM came to an end. Now, Stern has announced a new three-year deal with the satellite radio giant, confirmed on his show on Tuesday morning.
“I’m happy to announce that I figured out a way to have it all; more free time, and continuing to be on the radio,” said Stern. “So yes, we are coming back for three years.”
SiriusXM did not immediately respond as to the terms of the new deal.
Back in August, reports surfaced that “The Howard Stern Show” would be coming to an end after a 20-year run, with his five-year contract set to expire in just a couple more weeks. Some speculated that the host’s potential exit might be related to his recent outspoken criticism of President Trump. But the 71-year-old Stern seemed most concerned about ensuring he had more free time, while also confirming he still owned the rights to his entire back catalog.
After Labor Day, Stern pranked his listeners by having Andy Cohen pretend to take over his show. Several news outlets fell for the joke, which only delighted Stern further. Upon returning to the air, he said his deal talks with SiriusXM had been “fantastic,” but had not yet confirmed what the future held for him.
“We’d love them to stay,” said a SiriusXM executive of Stern and his crew, prior to the confirmation of a deal. However, they added that it “certainly has to make sense” financially.
Meanwhile, the contract talks continued. Stern said on Tuesday that he feels “very loyal” to SiriusXM, and that makes a lot of sense. The satellite radio juggernaut has paid him hundreds of millions of dollars for exclusive rights to his vast catalog.
