Sirius’ Howard Stern made a strange comment yesterday that’s causing people to freak out, speculating wildly till they pass out.
Discussing his possible plans vis-à-vis [satellite] radio, Stern said, “This is my sawn song.” Now, what he was actually referring to was his aversion to returning to terrestrial (“regular”) radio, but it does raise a broader issue. That is, what’s to happen to satellite radio when he quits? It’s not like he needs the money at this point, so his continued presence (such as it is, what with his frequent days off) is more to do with him keeping busy than it is earning a paycheck.
So let’s say he leaves. It removes more than a few dollars from the Sirius payroll, yes, but it also puts Sirius in a strange, “So, you don’t have Howard anymore? Hmm…” position. The last thing Sirius needs is more uncertainty thrust upon it; you know the company is closely watching what happens to the auto makers since so many of its subscriptions come from deals it has with them. Because once a big name like that leaves, you know all those analyst types on Wall Street will be all, “PROBLEMS AT SIRIUS?”
But, who knows? Just trying to get a conversation started.
I think the auto makers point was spot on. Howard is a draw but not as much as getting it free for a month to try out in your new car.
Much cleaner!
What is a “sawn song”? Swan song I have heard of. Stern is a big draw for sat radio – but someone else will rise up in his place if he leaves – the circle will go on as it always has.
I have had Sirius for 4 years and don’t think Howard is that much of a draw. It brought attention to the industry but I really don’t think many have continued the service because of Howard. Every time I give his show a try it sucks. I like all the commercial free music and other talk shows.
Well said!
I disagree, I spoke to a Radio Shack counter guy (they sell Sirius) and he said the #1 comment he gets about buying Sirius is that they would have never bought it except for Howard.
When Howard Stern leaves Sirius-XM it will implode. You couldn’t PAY me to listen to Bubba the idiot or Ferrall the fool. Howard Stern IS satellite radio, nobody can replace him and if he leaves then say goodbye to satellite radio, it will go bankrupt. Mark Montgomery boboberg@nyc.rr.com
Well, I have had XM since 2004, and Sirius since 2005. I have never once tuned in Howard Stern’s channel and frankly I think there are more than enough subscribers who have no interest in it. It doesn’t hurt however that I am a huge Opie and Anthony fan and listen faithfully to that.
don’t they still have Mojo Nixon?
…you know all those analyst types on Wall Street will be all, “PROBLEMS AT SIRIUS?”
They’re already doing that because the answer is “Yes”, there’s already major problems at SIRI. Mountains of debt, executive staff ineptness, plateau in new customers, their reliance on the auto industry, etc. It’s currently .145/share. Glad I got in at .10 and not $3.00+ like a lot of people whining on the finance boards. His leaving may impact day traders, but for those of us staying long, he can go, it frees up money desperately needed. Besides, he’s boring anyway…
He’s been threatening to leave radio for years.
Amen. I’ve heard this song since WNBC.
Amen. I’ve heard this song since WNBC.
I love satellite radio, but I think it’s screwed regardless of what Howard does. It loses money hand over fist, even with Stern. So, I don’t get why people are acting like he’s saving satellite radio. If anything, he’s making its death come quicker because of his crazy salary.
I subscribed to XM from the year it came out until, roughly, a month ago. When I started subscribing to satellite radio, I did it because I felt like I had no choice. Radio in my area is terrible. Streaming, at the time, was about as unreliable as you can get. Connections were constantly dropping, and there weren’t many options.
These days, I can stream radio on my laptop all day long, reliably, without having to pay a nickel. Local radio fills in the small gap that is left. So, I get what I once paid a monthly fee for, for free.
In my opinion, reliable streaming is killing satellite radio, and it’s going to happen whether Howard sticks around or not.
When he leaves and he will at some point leave, Sirius will lose a number of people. I like Howard, I may keep it or I may not. But you have to be real. There are millions of people that signed up just for Howard. Love him or Hate him, you have to respect what he does and he does it very well.
If Artie wasn’t on I would have stopped listening to Howard about 2 years ago. He’s doing what Letterman did when he moved to CBS, playing nice and deflating conflict that he used to spear on. Don’t get me wrong, I love him very much, but he is waning.
All his fans better hope he gets Beth pregnant, if he has another kid he’ll stay on radio for another 18 years, just to stay out of the house.
Baba BOOOOEY!
I love Howard and would follow him anywhere.. but I don’t think Howard would know what to do with himself with a radio show. His cast is a family and I really think he’d go kinda nuts. Sure he’d hang out in the Hamptons for awhile…TRY retirement.. but he needs it.. and we need him!
I would still continue my subscription to Sirius/XM if he left.. I think the commercial free music is well worth it.
Excuse me… WITHOUT a radio show Howard would go nuts.
Howard Stern is a smart businessman and his contract is up soon. He is saying that he might leave is a contract ploy, Pur enough money on the table and he will be back on sirius.
Stern has made the same noise about leaving radio many other times when his ocntract was about to expire.
It’s all business guys.