Howard Stern lays off a dozen staffers, cuts to one show a week
Howard Stern has laid off around a dozen SiriusXM staffers and plans to air just one new show per week after Labor Day, according to Page Six. Employees learned of the cuts during a Monday Zoom call and were told remaining weekly airtime will rely on archive tape as the radio icon scales back production.
The shake-up lands in Bizarre World territory for longtime fans: Stern, 72, has hosted The Howard Stern Show for nearly five decades, yet his marquee SiriusXM program is now shrinking from three fresh episodes a week to one.
Key Takeaways
- Page Six reports Howard Stern dismissed roughly a dozen staffers on Monday, July 14, 2026.
- After Labor Day, Stern is expected to produce one new show weekly; archives fill the rest.
- A core team of veteran producers stays on, with severance offered to departing staff.
- The move follows Stern's December three-year contract extension promising more flexibility.
Why Is Howard Stern Laying Off Staff Now?
Per Page Six, staffers received the news over Zoom on Monday and were sent home immediately afterward. Sources said Stern retained a core group of veteran producers but cut additional roles because, as one put it, "he just doesn't need that much content anymore."
The layoffs arrive months after Stern signed a new three-year SiriusXM deal in December. He had spent the prior Labor Day off the air amid contract frustration, then told listeners he had "figured out a way to have it all" with "more free time" on radio.
How Will The Howard Stern Show Schedule Change After Labor Day?
During the Zoom call, employees were told Stern plans to cut back to a single new show per week once he returns from his summer break following the Labor Day holiday. The program currently airs three days a week on SiriusXM.
The remaining airtime is expected to be filled with tape from Stern's vast archive, effectively turning much of the weekly schedule into reruns rather than live broadcasts.
What Happens to Laid-Off SiriusXM Employees?
Page Six reports dismissed staffers will receive severance packages based on how long they have been with the network. Neither Stern nor SiriusXM has publicly confirmed the cuts or the once-weekly format as of publication.
The Daily Beast noted that speculation about Stern's future at SiriusXM swirled last year after reports that salary demands could scuttle a new deal. Those rumors faded when he re-signed, though his prior five-year contract was reported to be worth $500 million.
Did Stern's Latest Contract Signal This Shift?
On air in December, Stern said he still loved radio and believed the show was "better than ever." He framed the new agreement as giving him greater flexibility, language that now reads differently after the staffing cuts.
The reduction also comes amid separate legal turmoil. In April 2026, former executive assistant Leslie Kuhn sued Stern and his wife Beth, alleging a hostile work environment at their Southampton home; attorneys for the Sterns denied the claims. For full details, see the Page Six exclusive.