Howard Stern and his team were reportedly behind recent rumors that his job is in jeopardy via Page Six.
The allegedly “desperate hoax” was meant to make the “Howard Stern Show” host, “relevant,” the Daily Mail reported Thursday.
“They’re desperately trying to make this thing go viral to try to boost his numbers for his return [in September],” an insider told the outlet.
“His numbers are down so low that they’re trying … to get people to tune in to see what he’s going to say about getting ‘fired’ from Sirius [XM],” the source added.
The deception was allegedly “something they came up with on a viral scale to get people to tune in again” since Stern’s numbers are “pathetic.”
The individual noted that the former “America’s Got Talent” judge, who will address the rumors during his September 2nd return, doesn’t have plans to retire “anytime soon.”
Stern began hosting his show in 1981 and has been with SiriusXM since 2006. The Sun reported earlier this month that while SiriusXM planned to “make [Stern] an offer” when his contract ends in the fall, the company doesn’t “intend for him to take it.”
The outlet alleged, “Sirius and Stern are never going to meet on the money he is going to want. It’s no longer worth the investment. … There’s no way they can keep paying his salary.”
The Daily Mail claimed Tuesday that Stern plans to give his haters a “rude awakening” by announcing his renewed contract when he’s back on air next month.
The Daily Mail previously reported that Jimmy Kimmel called Stern over the headlines, only for the jockey to claim, “First I’m hearing of it.”
The widespread speculation has once again highlighted Stern’s unique position in radio. At 70 years old, the longtime shock jock continues to dominate headlines whenever his contract status comes into question. For decades, rumors of retirement have followed Stern almost as closely as his outrageous interviews and celebrity feuds. Each time, however, he has managed to extend his run, usually on terms that keep him as one of the highest-paid broadcasters in the industry.
This latest episode, whether seen as a clever publicity stunt or simply a misunderstanding spun out of control, underscores the challenges facing legacy radio stars in the streaming era. SiriusXM invested heavily in Stern when he made the jump from terrestrial radio in 2006, and while his audience remains loyal, reports of declining numbers reflect a tougher media landscape. Still, Stern has proven before that he can reinvent himself and keep listeners engaged, whether through controversial guests, political commentary, or his candid personal stories.
If the reports are true and Stern announces a contract renewal in September, it would silence retirement chatter for now — but also raise the question of how much longer he intends to keep broadcasting.
