Don’t Miss Andy Cohen’s Exclusive Interview with Howard Stern: Inside SiriusXM’s Ongoing Conversations!

Andy Cohen is set to interview Howard Stern this week amid ongoing contract talks at SiriusXM. This comes after much speculation about Stern’s future with the company and its possible effects if he decides to leave. During a recent event in New York, SiriusXM executives expressed their desire to keep Stern, recognizing the importance of his role.

SiriusXM CEO Jennifer Witz mentioned, “He has a lot of fans on the platform. I’m hopeful we’ll reach a good agreement.” She emphasized the need to consider what both Stern and the listeners want.

Cohen, who has his own radio shows at SiriusXM, referred to Stern as an “inspiration.” He plans to pose some tough questions during their conversation, which is scheduled for Tuesday and will air on Radio Andy that Friday. “I want to know why he’s been staying out of the spotlight,” Cohen noted. “And I’ll definitely be asking him about his contract and his views on politics.”

While Stern is a key figure for SiriusXM, the company is also cultivating new voices. Scott Greenstein, the president and chief content officer, highlighted their strategy of building stars from rising talent. “We focus on helping creators grow their own brand,” he explained.

At the recent event, SiriusXM showcased its diverse talent, including popular podcasters like Alex Cooper and Conan O’Brien. Cooper, with her substantial young audience, plays a critical role in attracting advertisers. “We dominate the Gen-Z women’s space,” she stated, discussing her plans to expand her podcast network into more niches.

Cohen and other SiriusXM talents value the creative freedom the platform offers. He mentioned how refreshing it is not to face restrictions on content. “They support my vision fully,” he said, reflecting on his ten-year journey with the company.

Recently, podcasting has driven substantial ad revenue for SiriusXM. According to Edison Research, they have partnerships with half of the top 20 podcasts, but Witz believes there is more room for growth, especially in niche markets. “It’s all about discovering emerging voices that can resonate with audiences,” she said.

Despite the rise in podcasting, Witz reassured that traditional satellite radio remains a core part of SiriusXM’s identity. However, the subscriber base has been declining slowly, now at just under 33 million. There are concerns that if Stern leaves, many listeners might follow.

To tackle subscriber churn, currently at about 1.5%, the company aims to engage new listeners through free trials and better understand their habits. Greenstein has also shared thoughts on converting loyal podcast listeners into subscribers.

“We’re exploring ways to bridge the gap between popular podcasts and satellite subscriptions,” he said. The focus right now is stabilizing the subscriber count while looking for potential growth avenues in satellite radio.

Witz sees opportunities for SiriusXM to attract listeners aged 35 to 50, which remains an untapped market. “We launched the service 20 years ago, and there’s a wealth of affluent subscribers in the 45-plus category. But we still have room for growth among those in their mid-30s,” she noted.

Overall, the landscape is dynamic as SiriusXM navigates both contract negotiations and the future of radio and podcasting. The industry will be watching closely to see how events unfold, particularly with influential figures like Stern at play.



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