What Will Howard Do? Stern's Contract Up in Six Months

By Jo Piazza Posted Jul 2nd 2010 01:00PM

Howard Stern's contract expires on Dec. 31, 2010, and after that he will be an unrestricted free agent. He'll be free to re-sign a contract with Sirius XM Radio, free to retire, free to return to terrestrial radio or free to start an entirely new career. Free to judge 'American Idol'? Yes, but that probably won't happen (even though we think he's the perfect choice).

So what will he do? That's what millions of fans are dying to know.

Howard recently said on his show that the end of the calendar year is really not a deadline for him to leave Sirius. There is a possibility that he could begin going month-to-month and figure things out in 2011. Howard has said that if he were to stay, he wants to negotiate a later start time for the show, but Sirius execs aren't too pleased about that idea. That much at least shows the two sides are talking about possibly moving forward together.

Stern's longtime fan base remains exceedingly loyal and they, along with Sirius, have made him a very wealthy man. According to the recently released Forbes Celebrity 100, Howard made $70 million this past year. Sirius pays him $100 million annually and he pays his show's production costs out of his own pocket.

But we know Howard isn't in this for the money, at this point.

If Howard wishes to stay in broadcasting, he has options outside of satellite radio. He could even go into business for himself.

"I think he should move over to a web-based show. That way, you wouldn't need any special equipment to listen to him, most cell phones already have Internet on them. So you get in your car, plug your phone in, instant Howard," says Stern's former program director at WXRC, Anthony Michaels. "You can go to the gym, plug headphones in, you get Howard, at work at home, as long as you have Internet, you get the show. If Howard charges $4.99 a month for his site, and just 2 million people follow him, that's $10 million a month."

The benefits of going into business for himself? No boss, no FCC regulation, no mandated start time. It would be Howard on demand when Howard wants to do it.

If he goes with this option, how will he lure in listeners? On his last day at Sirius, he could always announce that Artie Lange will be making his return on Howard's web-based show in January and get them psyched for an Artie tell-all.

Internet and HD radio are edgy right now, and Howard could be exactly what they need to start making some serious inroads with audiences, but heading back to terrestrial radio could just be the best move for Stern, and no one would fault him for returning.

"The Sirius experiment was interesting and fun, but Howard's audience wants to have less bills and not more. His best bet is to go back to terrestrial radio. He can go back any day without apologies," says Cooper Lawrence, host of the syndicated 'Cooper Lawrence Show.' "He is always welcome. He is iconic and has changed the face of radio. He should go for terrestrial with syndication. That's where the money is for him -- without him having to nickel-and-dime his fan base."

There has been speculation that Stern will leave radio altogether to become a host on 'American Idol,' replacing departing judge Simon Cowell in the fall.

But Stern's wife, Beth Ostrosky, revealed to People magazine this week that as much as she would love to see her husband judging the show, she doesn't think it is likely to happen.

Radio insiders say that whatever Stern's next project, he will manage to find a way to keep his long-loyal staff employed and very involved in his life.

"While it may look like Stern's staff has no idea what he is up to from the outside, this group is like a family and they have access to way more information than we know. But they're loyal. Why do you think things never get leaked," one longtime radio producer told us. "He will be taking care of them."

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Tags: artie lange, beth ostrosky, howard stern

Comments

(312)

Saturday 10 July

By bob

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Let the poison out Raven!!!

By CATS RULE HERE

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He's a garbage mouthed, shock value, burned out hippie.
Set him out with the rest of the trash.

By Dwelk

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The following is from Websters Dictionary...

Howard Stern - Hugh Hefner with a BiG Mouth.

By Ric

He's should "take his talents to South Beach"...he and LeBron's ego's should match perfectly.

By Bababooey

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Howard is the King and always will be the King. I hope he stays and as long as Howard is on some form of media I will be there. Forget Lebron Howard is the true King

BABABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOEY forever mother f-ers

By Howard Sterns ballsack

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This is quite the tenses............I see OJ and he be looking mad. I'd be mad too cause there is cops all deep in this. And a bababooey to ya'll.

F Jackie

By myles august

best phony phone call ever

By Holly Collier

I think he should go down the gutter where he belongs.

By Marshy

Now, thats really rude.

By Holly

No, he is really rude...that is a fact.

By John F.C. Taylor

Howard used to be funny when he had a TV show a long time ago. When they started televising his radio show, it became very unfunny. It became more of a "what can I do or say to gross out the public?" thing with him. Gross is generally not funny.

By old howard fan

i used watch howard when he was on tv in the 90's, listened to him all the time, then watched him at the new studio in the 2000's, but then he sold out, went to hell in a hand basket and if it's NOT about the money like the article says, and he does care about the fans, then why not go back to regular radio? Because it IS ALL ABOUT money and this FCC thing is just an excuse. See ya howard, you were a true entertainer at one time but now just a washout. I can understant stuttering John bailing out on you.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh Howard isnt funny......................waaaaahhhhhhhhhh Stuttering loser left and look at him now. Great move on Johns part huh??? You are just a crying whiner. I hope Joey Boots puts you on his list

By Victoria

I will appreciate Howard too, if he goes to Iran or Iraq. Keep America Clean !

TATATOOOOOOOTHY MAMAMONKEYYYYYYYYYYYYY SASASMELLLLLLLLLLLLLLY FAFAFOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOEY

By Kay

He should replace Jerry Springer or go the Springer type of show. Right up his alley.

By Susan

John, you're the idiot. You need to learn how to spell, you moron. I think Howard as a politician would be perfect. And he clearly has shown interest in doing that.

By chriswilis

Maybe he'll retire and move into the home for dirty old men with Larry King:)

By Jerry

I think Howard ought to repent of his sin of adding to the corruption of America and go to a monistery and reflect on what he is doing.

By sponsi

Don't kid yourself, he's only in it for the money!

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