Will Howard Stern Take a Big Pay Cut to Stay at Sirius? The Kiddy Blocks of A Fake News Story

Various paid corporate flacks are flooding the internet with thinly disguised psyops against Howard Stern. The message they are trying to get out, and trying hard, is that Howard has no choice but to resign with Sirius/XM, at a lower rate of pay, when his five year contract runs out next year. Here's the basic templet created by Associated Press that is being repeated:

AP Stern's Threat to Quit Sirius Could be Empty Talk

It carefully crafts the main talking points being variously repeated everywhere without question.

1. Sirius can't afford to pay Howard what it used to. "Sirius nearly had to file for bankruptcy…" "weak auto sales…" "threats from internet radio" etc.

2. Because of the merger, Howard doesn't have any competing satellite network to go to. Since Sirius absorbed XM it has been reducing "on-air talent costs."

3. Free stations are also financially struggling and can't pay him much. "The recession has compounded problems…" "radio advertising revenue fell…" "big station owners are wrestling with debts…"

4. He wouldn't want to go to free stations because of the FCC. He likely would "chafe at being censored again…" "his racy banter isn't subject to federal restrictions…"

5. He can't retire because he loves the publicity. "he won't give up his bull horn."

All of these points are completely wrong. AP does allow that Howard has some options, but the main gist of the story is patently stupid. It is only supported by quotes from talking heads with vested interests in seeing Howard fail or old grudges against him. I mean, come on, they quote Opie & Anthony's (two barely successful Howard Stern wannabes) agent when he says, Stern is "probably not worth" 500 million to Sirius now. Who gives a shit what he thinks?

Another key source is Brett Harriss who represents a company that owns 1.1 million Sirius shares and for some reason thinks Howard should take a pay cut and keep working. Hmm… that's an objective point of view.

After AP helpful set up the talking points, they're being repeated as facts elsewhere without even a shred of new information or counterbalance. For example:

Boston Herald

It breathlessly runs through the five points: "… experts say Stern doesn’t have many places left to go if he wants another huge payday. Free radio stations are struggling with steep drops in advertising and high debt loads, and probably can’t pay top dollar to get him back. Not to mention the fact that Stern would need to clean up his act or do battle with the FCC again. So if Stern, 55, does re-sign with Sirius - which declared bankruptcy this past year - it’s likely to be for a much leaner paycheck this time around." Almost like it's afraid someone will interrupt. Of course, no mention of who all these experts are. Opie & Anthony's agent?

Here's breaking news from the Sacrmento Bee"

Sacramento Bee

"Not many places left that can pay him big bucks. Free radio stations are struggling with declines in advertising revenue and hefty debt. There's only one satellite radio operator left, and he's already on it." Talk about great investigative reporting!

Here's so more examples. Play Where's Waldo and find the five talking points in each of them:

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Examiner Thinks Howard Will Be Dethroned

Monsters and Critics

Canada Thinks Howard Should Take a Pay Cut

Canada Again

Stupid Gossip Blog

Paris Hilton? Traitor!

Howard Isn't Even Funny

So whose behind this endlessly repeated bullshit? Well, obviously some people like reps for Sirius shareholders, have a vested interest in Howard thinking he has no choices and taking a pay cut. Others, like the agents of other radio hosts, might just be bitter and love to be quoted. Some of this is coming from inside Sirius, but also some of it is coming from free radio stations who would love to have Howard back and are hoping Sirius is too stupid to pay him enough to keep him.

Now, plenty of poorly researched news stories are repeated all over the internet because they cover an interesting topic (in this case Howard Stern) and people are too lazy to do any real reporting. But there clearly is a conspiracy going on in this particular case, because you don't have to do any work to write about Howard Stern. He's on the air four hours a day! Why not quote at least something HE SAID. Yes, he's not saying a lot, wanting to keep the negotiations private, but what he is saying is a hell of a lot more interesting that repeating crap.

Plus, as I will show in later blogs, there are a lot more facts easily available that contradict all five of these points than there are to support it.

Finally, why not quote the guy who is actually negotiating the deal? Here's what he says:

What Does Mel Say?

"… my business model is always that I'd rather figure out a way to make money with the talent rather than not have them and compete against them."

That seems to make a lot of sense. That kind of thinking means there will be a lot to negotiate and there are plenty of ways to make Howard happy. Stay tuned.