Howard Stern Needs More Humility
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I can't relate to being as successful as Howard Stern or, for that matter, his board op. But there are certain actions that tend to tweak me the wrong way, even when coming from someone who's reached the pinnacle of a profession, as Howard has.
A recent comment published in Entertainment Weekly gets to the heart of where Howard Stern is coming from, and fans need to read between the lines to understand that there's more here than is being said. You can read the interview (linked below), but you'll have to follow it to the last paragraph to get his response to the question "Does it bother you that most of your fans haven't followed you to Sirius?"
I was just at my psychiatrist and I said, ''I just got great news: We hit
the 4 million mark. And I'm angry. It should be 20 million.'' It's insulting
to me that everyone hasn't come with me. I take it personally.
The competitive thing is a sickness that eats at me. I want to say
to my audience in this article, ''F--- you! You haven't come with me
yet? How dare you?'' [Laughs] ''We're up to wild, crazy stuff, the
show has never sounded better. You cheap bastard!''
While those who are Howard Stern die-hards are probably eating this up and will respond to what follows with a barrage of emails containing expletives, the one observation each should make before doing so should be that Howard is a businessman whose income depends on how well he markets himself (read: how many Receivers he brings to Sirius).
Howard Stern has found the secret to having people throw money at him. He also has the ability to be as brash as they come. But there comes a point at which even the famous need to realize that those "cheap bastards" are the people who made you, and that chastising them isn't a way to create a closer relationship (even if in jest).
Ultimately Howard Stern launched a year-long "I'm moving to Sirius" campaign at CBS. All the while that he was stating how this was his opportunity to do radio the way he wanted to do radio, he was also building the base for a lucrative future. What wasn't dwelled upon was how his income would be derived from the numbers of people that followed this modern-day pied piper. Had this truth been placed on the airwaves, even his die-hard fans would have realized they were being played as a commodity.
Howard marketed himself in what can only be described as the best publicity campaign since Burma Shave signs.
That he was successful is without question. Estimates of 10%-28% of his audience making the move with him prove that. As an advertising campaign, his final days at CBS Radio were well spent.
But to respond that he's angry because it should've been 20 million, not 4, that followed him shows signs of someone who isn't satisfied with super stardom that's accompanied by super riches.
Maybe Howard Stern needs to discuss appreciation at his next visit to the psychiatrist.
From: David S.
Howard was talking about his sickness of never feeling he is successful
regardless of accomplishment... He was not berating fans... He was using
the 4 million fan comment as an example of his illness...
From: Greg N.
I enjoyed reading your comments about Stern and his thoughts about his
audience size at Sirius.
I was a loyal listener to Stern while he was on local radio. I did miss
not hearing the show once he left (and have abandonded DLR after giving
him a month). I still occassionaly debate getting a Sirius system, but
I have two major obstacles. One, to make it worth my while, I need a
portable radio. So, I was looking at around $400 to get the right equipment.
Not that I can't afford it, I just have other priorities. Secondly, I still
read Howard's show reviews on his website. Some of his "wild" stuff just
doesn't interest me. His new toy of choice seems to be this symbian machine.
He may think it's great radio, but it doesn't make me want to listen.
One of the things I remember Howard saying in his last days at CBS is that
he was going to do the show the way he wants and he was willing to have a
smaller audience to do it. I'm sure he's happy with the show and that's
the most important thing.
It's been three months and I don't really miss the show like I thought I would.
I guess some would say I was never a true
From: AJ
I pay 10 times for cable TV as I do to listen to Howard. And I get
10 times more entertainment from Howard than I do from cable TV.
I'ts entertainment I'm after, and I get pelnty of it from Howard. When
Howard stops being funny, I'll stop paying. He'll last a long time. And BTW,
there is lots of stuff on Sirius other than Howard, and I like the no
censorship aspect of it all. So all you people that don't get Sirius,
stay where you are - and stop talking about Stern.
From: Joe F
The comment was said in jest referencing Howard's obsession with achieving
more as you mention. It is not his lack of appreciation or anything of the
sort he is what is known as someone who is succesful because of his crazy
drive to do more, to gain more.
From: AJF
Its capitalism and entertainment. Have you ever heard of an actor promoting
a tv show or a band promoting where they are playing? I think everybody on
the planet gets that entertainers get paid. Howard markets his product, himself
and gets paid according to how much he brings in. Everybody with employment
does the same thing everyday. Lighten up and be an entertained consumer.
Of course you want your product to be the biggest and the best. What
entrepeneur doesn't? It takes some ego and some talent to make a big
career like his... he's an entertainer. That's a great thing for his fans.
Fortunately, a big name talent is shedding light on the satellite industry...
its where radio has evolved just like pay per view entertainment.
Let freedom ring and let it be rung by a stripper.
From: Len B.
Since Mr. Stern was given a multi million dollar contract, perhaps he would
consider assisting his loyal fans with some dollars to offset the cost of their
monthly subscriptions, amd the radio they have to buy to enable them to listen.
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