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Howard Stern shocked listeners and set the media buzzing this week by staging an elaborate prank about his supposed departure from SiriusXM. After weeks of cryptic show promos and fevered speculation fueled by headlines about him being fired or canceled, Monday’s edition of The Howard Stern Show opened with Bravo’s Andy Cohen pretending to take over Stern’s channel, even renaming it Andy 100. The stunt immediately triggered confusion among listeners, social media, and newsrooms, all of whom have followed rumors of contract drama and SiriusXM subscriber losses. According to the Associated Press, the joke reached its crescendo when Stern finally jumped on air, thanked Cohen for playing along, and made it clear he is still with SiriusXM and never intended to leave. Stern told fans that contrary to reports, there is no finalized new contract, but that talks between his team and the company remain positive. He also admitted to considering retirement, but felt locked in by all the false tabloid stories and rumor-mongering.

This prank comes against the backdrop of SiriusXM’s subscriber base facing steady erosion, with the service now at 33 million paid users, down about 100,000 from last year, which puts even more focus on Stern’s future and leverage, especially as his $500 million contract expires at the end of 2025. Industry insiders, according to the Los Angeles Times, saw this stunt as both a puckish reminder of Stern’s showmanship and SiriusXM’s heavy reliance on a single star for brand identity and subscription appeal. SiriusXM’s Scott Greenstein publicly reaffirmed Stern’s central importance, framing the potential negotiation as one where “the price must be right” given the maturing and increasingly competitive audio landscape.

Social media instantly amplified the drama, with “Howard Stern leaving Sirius” trending and fans, rivals, and media analysts all weighing in. Other big names in podcasting and entertainment openly commented on whether Stern might pivot to new platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts if he and SiriusXM fail to strike a deal. For now, Stern signaled happiness at the company and hinted that new suitors had contacted him during the speculation. The entire saga reinforces Stern’s ability to turn even routine contract talks into headline-driving pop culture theater, all without confirming any resolution on where he’ll end up after 2025.

No unconfirmed reports indicate an imminent exit, but the wider significance is clear: Howard Stern, even at 71, remains an unpredictable force—one whose next move could reshape the future not just for SiriusXM but also for talk audio itself.

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