The airwaves have been buzzing with questions about Howard Stern’s future at Sirius XM. Now, the iconic radio personality is finally clearing things up.
“I was on vacation, and suddenly, I was in Stephen Colbert’s world,” the 71-year-old explained to Andy Cohen on the October 10 episode of Sirius XM’s Andy Cohen Live. Stern described a strange rumor where the FCC was supposedly kicking him out. He wasn’t sure if it was because he was “too woke.” He wondered aloud, “Too woke? I don’t even know what ‘woke’ is. What does ‘woke’ mean?”
Stern went on to say that if being “woke” is why he’s supposedly in trouble, then the world has truly turned upside down. He pointed out the kind of topics he discusses on his show. He admitted he still doesn’t quite get the term. But, he added, “If it means I’m awake, then God bless me.”
Cohen chimed in, suggesting that being "woke" might simply mean "you care about other people." Stern agreed, noting that suddenly, caring for others isn’t seen as "manly" anymore. He then reassured listeners that he is absolutely not being fired.
He also shared his feelings about any future decisions Sirius XM might make about his contract. “If that works out, great. I truly love this company,” Stern, whose show helped put satellite radio on the map, told Cohen, 57. He remembered signing on when there were only about 200,000 subscribers, and competitor XM was ahead. His goal back then, just like with earlier radio stations, was to win. He’s proud of the consolidated company they have now. Stern said if he stays, he will take responsibility for that decision.
The initial dismissal rumors began circulating widely in August. Stern didn’t comment right away. However, in September, he played a prank on his audience. He led them to believe Cohen had replaced him, and that the show was now called "Andy 100."
He later explained the prank. "I’m minding my own business, enjoying my summer vacation. [A reporter] says I was fired for being too ‘woke’." He noted how this followed reports of Stephen Colbert’s firing for being "too woke" due to a merger. So, the story became that Howard Stern was fired for being too "woke." Stern joked that the whole thing made him so angry, he couldn’t retire even if he wanted to now.
SiriusXM executive Scott Greenstein also weighed in on Stern’s position with the company. Speaking at the Bank of America conference on September 3, Greenstein highlighted Stern’s unmatched importance. “Howard, all these years and through now, has been some of the most important content, most valuable piece of content that we’ve had,” he stated. He added that Stern is a central figure who drives interest and advertising for the service.
Greenstein firmly believes Stern is "the best interviewer out there, period, bar none." He acknowledged that renewals with talent of Stern’s caliber always involve a long negotiation process. Greenstein expressed the company’s good fortune over the years. He said they would love for Stern to stay, adding, "It certainly has to make sense, but we feel pretty confident because we’ve done it before and we’ll see where everything lands.”
The executive also mentioned that advertising revenue and social media engagement are key factors Sirius XM considers when making decisions about hiring, firing, or continuing shows and hosts.