Howard Stern Isn’t Going Anywhere: Three More Years at Sirius

Howard Stern just reminded everyone he can still stir the pot and close a deal at the same time. After months of will-he-won't-he chatter about his future at SiriusXM, he pulled a prank on listeners, let the rumor mill run wild, then returned with an answer: he is staying.

The headline: Stern re-ups for three more years

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Stern has ended his contract standoff and signed a new three-year agreement with SiriusXM, where he hosts on his own channel. On air this morning, he opened the show by telling fans he found a way to keep doing the gig while carving out more personal time.

I'm happy to announce that I've figured out a way to have it all. More free time, and continuing to be on the radio. So yes, we are coming back for three years.

He also got a little sentimental about the company backing him during negotiations:

I love this company. I truly do. I feel very loyal to this company. They did want me to come back, and they said, whatever you want to do, we'll do for you. Who says that to anybody? When does your boss say that?

So about that Andy Cohen stunt...

Back in the fall, while Stern was coming off his summer hiatus and still deciding whether to extend the five-year deal he signed in 2020, he used the contract drama as cover for a prank. He had Andy Cohen kick off the show in Stern's slot and say Stern was no longer with SiriusXM. Major outlets including CNBC, Variety, and the Associated Press ran with the idea that Stern had left.

When Stern got back on the mic, he called those stories exactly what he thought they were: bad rumors. The bit was basically his way of trolling the coverage of his status while he took his time deciding what to do next.

The beats, quickly

• 2020: Stern signs a five-year deal with SiriusXM.
• Summer 2024: He goes on hiatus as renewal talks linger.
• Fall 2024: Andy Cohen opens Stern's time slot, says Stern is out; multiple outlets report he's gone.
• Post-hiatus: Stern returns, says those were bad rumors and keeps everyone guessing.
• Now: New three-year contract is done; Stern says he'll keep broadcasting with a lighter load.

Quick refresher: why Stern still moves the needle

Howard Stern has been one of the most controversial and, yes, influential voices in modern media since the 1980s. His rise came on a mix of boundary-pushing humor and regular run-ins with the FCC: boob jokes, prank calls, and the Wack Pack made him a household name. His books topped bestseller lists, he played himself in the biopic 'Private Parts,' and long before he made the jump to satellite radio on that headline-grabbing $500 million Sirius contract, he was already a brand unto himself. He even dabbled in video projects with titles like 'Butt Bongo Fiesta,' which tells you everything about the era and his sense of humor.

Bottom line: the prank worked, the rumors did what rumors do, and now Stern is locked in at SiriusXM for three more years, by his own telling with a schedule that gives him more breathing room. Classic Stern move: chaos first, clarity later.