King of Fools

Speaking of garments...could it be, the King has on no clothes?

The self-proclaimed King of All Media, that rascally Howard Stern, is scratching his scruffy head and wondering where all his listeners have gone, now that he’s gone from terrestrial to satellite radio.

According to CBS Radio, Stern’s national audience was estimated at 12-million…but metrics of his current listeners range between one-sixth and one-twelfth that number.

Whether you believe the veracity of Arbitron ratings or not, an apples-to-apples comparison of their surveys would tend to prove the theory that listener loyalty is valued at about $13/month--what it costs to subscribe to Sirius' service.

But what did you expect from a group that was catered by Stern, who verbally rebuked the un-converted to his Sirius satellite radio channel by asking, “You haven't come with me yet? How dare you?"

A survey by Jacobs Media indicates stations who once competed with Stern are ironically reaping the benefits of his absence. The Los Angeles Times noted the poll showed more than half of Stern's former audience has not stuck with the replacements, and instead are drifting toward similar, well-established morning programs in their local markets.

Then there’s always the possibility some folks are have just outgrown Howard Stern.