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Howard Allan Stern (born January 12, 1954) is an American radio personality who has hosted The Howard Stern Show on Sirius XM, an uncensored satellite radio service, since 2006. He gained national recognition in the 1990s while on terrestrial airwaves, and is known as a "shock jock" for his outspoken and controversial shows. Stern is the highest-paid radio figure in the United States.[1] He is also the most fined,[2] following a history with the Federal Communications Commission over indecency from 1986 to 2005.
Stern wished for a radio career at the age of five. While attending Boston University in 1975, he co-hosted a comedy program at the campus station, WTBU. He made his professional debut at WNTN in Newton, Massachusetts that year. In 1977, he gained on-air and managerial experience for two years at WRNW in Briarcliff Manor, New York. He showed a more open personality throughout 1979 and 1980 in mornings at WCCC in Hartford, Connecticut and WWWW in Detroit. In 1981, he paired with his news reader Robin Quivers at WWDC in Washington, D.C. to host the morning shift. In the following year, Stern worked afternoons at WNBC in New York City, where differences with management led to his firing in 1985. He was rehired at WXRK for the next 20 years before leaving for Sirius in 2005. During this time, Stern would attract a peak audience of around 20 million across 60 markets in the United States and Canada.
Stern describes himself as the "King of All Media" for his successes outside radio. Since 1987, his television career has included several late night shows and pay-per-view specials. He is the author of Private Parts (1993) and Miss America (1995), which spent a combined 36 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list.[3] The former was made into a biographical comedy film, Private Parts (1997), starring Stern and some of his radio show staff as themselves. The film grossed over $41 million in the United States alone.
Howard Stern was born on January 12, 1954, in New York City, to a Jewish American family (his Hebrew name is "Tzvi").[4][5] His parents Ben and Ray (née Schiffman) are children of Austro-Hungarian immigrants. His sister Ellen is four years his senior.[6] Five months after Stern's birth, the family moved to the suburban area of Roosevelt on Long Island.[7]
Stern's interest in radio began when he was five years old.[8] While Ray was a homemaker for most of his childhood,[9][10] Ben was a co-owner of Aura Recording, Inc., a recording studio in Manhattan where cartoons and commercials were produced. When he would occasionally work with his father, Stern met the likes of Wally Cox, Don Adams and Larry Storch who were the voices of his favourite cartoon characters.[11] Such visits influenced him to be on the radio to talk, rather than play records. Ben was also an engineer at WHOM, an AM radio station in Manhattan,[12] where its FM sister station became WXRK in 1985. Stern would broadcast for over 20 years in his career at the station.
Stern attended Washington Rose Elementary School until the end of sixth grade,[13] followed by Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School, where at the end of the 1968-69 academic year more than three-quarters of Roosevelt's four-thousand school children were African American.[14] Stern later published his experiences, describing the abuse and beatings he received from black students.[15] In June 1969, the family moved to nearby Rockville Centre, where Stern transferred to South Side High School and graduated in the spring of 1972.
Having turned down an acceptance at Elmira College in upstate New York, Stern attended Boston University in the fall 1972 for its reputation in broadcast communications.[16] He spent the first two years at the College of Basic Studies. In 1973, he read the news, spun records and hosted interviews at the campus radio station, WTBU.[17] Stern also put on a comedy show with three elder students called the King Schmaltz Bagel Hour.[18] The four were fired during the first broadcast for a sketch called "Godzilla Goes to Harlem", though it continued for a further nine weeks after being reinstated.[16] In the fall of 1974, Stern gained admission to the School of Public Communications;[16] earning a first class FCC license the following July.[19] He gained professional experience as a newscaster, producer and air personality at WNTN in Newton, Massachusetts from August to December 1975.[20][21] He graduated magna cum laude in May 1976 with a bachelor's degree, carrying a 3.8 Grade Point Average,[17][18] and now funds a scholarship at the university.[22]
Among the radio stations Stern contacted after graduating was WRNW, a progressive rock station in the small village of Briarcliff Manor in Westchester County, New York. The general manager praised his audition tape, but Stern rejected offers to work. He became unsure of his potential, and questioned his future in the industry. He then took a marketing position at Benton & Bowles, a New York advertising agency, followed by a job in radio advertising.[17] Stern was contacted by the station a second time, agreeing to work a shift on December 25, 1976.[21] He was hired full-time on May 12, 1977,[23] working a six-day midday shift for four hours, for US$96 a week before taxes.[21] While retaining his air shift, Stern became the station's program director that November, for an increased salary of $12,000.[20][24] Steering the station towards soft rock, Stern aimed for a definite sound. "We want people to turn on and know right away, 'that's WRNW, that's my station, I like it'", he told The New York Times in 1978.[24]
In early 1979, Stern spotted an advertisement in Radio & Records for a "wild, fun morning guy" at WCCC, a rock station in Hartford, Connecticut.[25] He showcased a more confident audition tape, performing flatulence routines, one-liners and played records by Robert Klein and Cheech and Chong. He was hired in the spring with no change in salary, but a busier schedule. After a four-hour air shift, he voiced and produced commercials for another four. On Saturdays, after six hours on the air, he did production work for the next three. As the public affairs director, he hosted a talk show on Sunday mornings without music, which he favoured.[25] In the summer of the 1979 energy crisis, Stern began a two-day boycott of Shell Oil Company. The station backed Stern, and the two made national news.[25]Fred Norris, the overnight disc jockey at the time, went on to be Stern's show producer and writer as of 1981. In the Arbitron ratings survey covering October – November 1979, an increase in Stern's listeners (to a 3.2% share of the listening audience) help pull WCCC ahead of rival station WHCN.[26] In March 1980, Stern left the station after being denied a $25 weekly increase in pay.[25][27]
Stern's audition tape for a morning spot at WWWW, a rock station in Detroit, Michigan, was well-received by management. Accepting a $30,000 salary, Stern made his début on April 21, 1980.[18][28] Stern improved his confidence, learning to become more open on the air. "I decided to cut down the barriers...strip down all the ego...and be totally honest", he later told Newsday.[29] He began getting noticed in the industry, having won a Billboard Award for "Album-Oriented Rock Personality of the Year For a Major Market",[30] the Drake-Chenault "Top Five Talent Search"[31] and a Michigan Rock Award for "Announcer of the Year".[32] The station however, was losing popularity to strengthening competition. Arbitron figures released in January 1981 showed WLLZ, the city's fourth rock station that emerged in August, shot to a 4.6% market share, while Stern slipped from 3% to 1.6%.[29] On January 18, 1981, WWWW switched to a more successful country music format. Much to Stern's dislike, he left the station soon after.
Stern was hired to work mornings at WWDC, an album-oriented rock station in Washington, D.C., on March 2, 1981.[18] He wished for a newscaster for satire and topical humour.[30] Denise Oliver, the station's program director, paired Stern with Robin Quivers from WFBR in Baltimore, whose contributions helped develop his act.[33] Feeling restricted and controlled, Stern "chipped away" at management's "archaic approach".[30] By January 1982, Stern rose to second place in the Arbitron rankings.[34] Impressed with his performance, management offered Stern a long-term contract, which he rejected.[34] He was in discussions with the NBC Radio Network in working afternoons at their flagship station, WNBC in New York City.[34] With six months left on his contract at "DC-101", Stern signed a deal with NBC worth $1 million over five years.[34] He was let go from "DC-101" early on June 25, 1982,[35] having more than tripled his audience during his 15-month stay.[35] Stern ventured into his first project outside radio that year. With a requested upfront payment of $3,500, Stern recorded a comedy album of his radio bits titled 50 Ways to Rank Your Mother. It was re-released as Unclean Beaver on compact disc in November 1994.[34]
NBC executives were concerned about Stern's hiring months before his first broadcast. A news report on raunch radio by Douglas Kiker, airing on NBC Magazine on April 2, 1982, created discussions to reconsider their decision.[36] Though Stern began his afternoon program in early September 1982,[37] management closely monitored his show, ordering Stern to avoid sexual and religious discussions.[38] He was ultimately suspended for several days in his first month for "Virgin Mary Kong", a skit featuring a new video game whereby a group of men pursued the Virgin Mary around a singles bar in Jerusalem.[36] An attorney from NBC was hired to man a "dump button" and insert filler, such as a jingle, in the event of Stern veering into an "offensive" area. This became a job for Kevin Metheny, the station's program director, who Stern would nickname "Pig Virus".[36][39] Stern would deviate from the station's strict format that called for a set number of songs per hour and traffic reports every 20 minutes. The arrival of new general manager Randy Bongarten in July 1983 was welcomed by Stern.[40] He supported Stern, confident in big ratings in time.
Stern's popularity increased throughout 1984. His first appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, on May 21, launched him into the national spotlight.[18] He moved to a more prominent position in the station's line-up from 4–8 pm to 3–7 pm,[41] and gained eight tenths of a ratings point across the year.[42] In the spring of 1985, Stern topped the afternoon ratings with a 5.7% market share, beating morning rival Don Imus.[43] On September 30, 1985, while in the top position, Stern and Quivers were fired for "conceptual differences" between management.[44] "Over the course of time, we made a very conscious effort to make Stern aware that certain elements of the program should be changed", said program director John Hayes, who Stern nicknamed "The Incubus". "I don't think it's appropriate to say what those specifics were".[45] In 1992, Stern believed Thornton Bradshaw, chairman of WNBC's owner RCA, heard his "Bestiality Dial-a-Date" segment ten days earlier, and ordered his firing.[38]
Stern and Quivers kept in touch with their WNBC audience throughout October and November 1985, forming a live stage show at club venues.[44] On November 6, rock station WXRK in New York City announced their return to afternoons starting November 18.[46] Stern signed a five-year contract with owner Infinity Broadcasting worth around $500,000 that escalated in successive years.[46] On February 18, 1986, Stern moved to mornings and entered national syndication on August 18 when WYSP in Philadelphia carried his show.[44] In late 1992, Stern became the first to top the New York and Los Angeles ratings simultaneously.[47] Stern retained his morning position until December 16, 2005, where he began his contract at Sirius in 2006.[48] In this 20-year period, he would be heard in over 60 markets across the United States and Canada,[49][50] while gaining a peak audience of around 20 million.[51][52][53]
In 1987, the Fox network sought a nightly talk show replacement for The Late Show hosted by Joan Rivers. Five one-hour pilots of The Howard Stern Show were recorded between May 13–30,[54][55] featuring rock guitarist Leslie West as bandleader and Steve Rossi as announcer.[56] No episodes made it to air. One Fox executive reportedly described the show as "poorly produced", "in poor taste" and "boring".[57] The next year, he hosted Howard Stern's Negligeé and Underpants Party, his first pay-per-view event, on February 27, 1988.[44] Over 60,000 homes purchased the live two-hour special, grossing $1.2 million.[58] On September 7, 1989, over 16,000 fans packed out Nassau Coliseum for Howard Stern's U.S. Open Sores, a live event that featured a tennis match between Stern and his radio show producer, Gary Dell'Abate.[44] In early 1990, Stern signed a deal with WWOR-TV to host The Howard Stern Show, a Saturday night television program. 69 episodes were recorded from July 14, 1990 – August 8, 1992.[59]All American Television began syndicating the show in January 1991 to 65 markets overall.[60] During this time Stern released Crucified by the FCC in February 1991, a compilation of censored radio show segments.[61] In October 1992, Stern released Butt Bongo Fiesta for home video.[61] He returned to Saturday night television in November, hosting a one-on-one interview show on the E! network. The Howard Stern "Interview" premièred on November 27, 1992, lasting for 36 episodes.[62]
Stern appeared at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards as Fartman, a fictional superhero that first appeared in the National Lampoon magazine in the mid-1970s. He first used the character while at Washington in 1981. Stern rejected multiple script proposals for a summer 1993 release of The Adventures of Fartman, until a verbal agreement was reached with New Line Cinema.[63] Screenwriter J. F. Lawton was hired to prepare a script, before relations soured over the film's rating, content and merchandising rights.[64][65]
In early 1993, Stern signed a $1 million advance contract with Simon & Schuster to publish his first book.[66] Co-authored with Larry Sloman and edited by Judith Regan, Private Parts was released on October 7, 1993. The book sold its first printing of 225,000 copies within hours of going on sale. After five days, it became the fastest-selling title in Schuster's history.[67] Two weeks later, in its eighth printing, over one million copies had been distributed.[66][68] Sales were supported by Stern's book signing tour. His first at a Barnes & Noble store on Fifth Avenue attracted an estimated 10,000 fans.[66] The book spent 20 weeks on The New York Times Best-Seller list.[3] Stern has written forewords for Steal This Dream (1998), a biography of Abbie Hoffman, Disgustingly Dirty Joke Book (1998) by Jackie Martling, and Too Fat to Fish (2008) by Artie Lange.
Stern hosted his second pay-per-view event, The Miss Howard Stern New Year's Eve Pageant, on December 31, 1993. It surpassed the subscriber record for a non-sports event held by a 1990 New Kids on the Block concert.[68] Around 400,000 households purchased Stern's event that grossed an estimated $16 million.[69] In early 1994, the event was released on VHS as Howard Stern's New Year's Rotten Eve 1994. Between his book royalties and pay-per-view profits, Stern's earnings in the latter months of 1993 totalled around $7.5 million.[70]
On March 22, 1994, Stern announced his candidacy for Governor of New York under the Libertarian Party ticket.[71] He challenged Mario Cuomo for re-election, promising the return of the death penalty, changes in highway toll collection to improve traffic flow, and limiting road construction to night hours.[72][73] On April 23, 1994, at the party's nomination convention in Albany, Stern won the required two-thirds majority on the first ballot, receiving 287 of the 381 votes cast (75.33%). James Ostrowski finished second with 34 votes (8.92%).[74] To place his name on the November ballot, Stern was obliged to state his home address and to complete a financial disclosure form under the 1978 Ethics in Government Act. Arguing the law violated his right to privacy and freedom of association, Stern was denied a temporary injunction on August 2, 1994.[72] He withdrew his candidacy two days later. Cuomo was defeated in the gubernatorial election on November 8, 1994 by George Pataki, whom Stern backed. In 1995, Pataki signed "The Howard Stern Bill" which limited construction on state roads to night hours in New York and Long Island.[75]
In June 1994, six robot cameras were installed in Stern's radio show studio to film a condensed half-hour program on the E! network.[76]Howard Stern ran for 11 years, until the last taped episode was broadcast on July 8, 2005.[77] In conjunction with his move to Sirius, Stern launched Howard Stern on Demand, an subscription video on-demand (SVOD) service, on November 18, 2005.[78] The service was fully launched as Howard TV on March 16, 2006.[79]
In 1994, Billboard magazine added the "Nationally Syndicated Air Personality of the Year" category to its annual radio awards, based on entertainment value, creativity and ratings success.[80] Stern won the title for eight consecutive years from 1994–2002.[81][82]
Stern's outspoken style has brought criticism. For example, a few days after the murder of singer Selena, Stern criticized her music. Stern said, "This music does absolutely nothing for me. Alvin and the Chipmunks have more soul... Spanish people have the worst taste in music. They have no depth." Stern's comments outraged and infuriated the Hispanic community across Texas. Stern received a huge backlash when he further mocked Selena's murder itself, by playing gunshots over her music.[83][84]
Stern signed a contract with ReganBooks to write a second book, with an advance of around $3 million.[85] Titled Miss America, it was released on November 7, 1995. It instantly sold 33,000 copies at Barnes & Noble stores[citation needed] and a total 120,000 in the first week,[citation needed] knocking My American Journey by Colin Powell from the top spot on national best-seller lists.[citation needed]
Stern's 1993 autobiography was adapted into a biographical film in 1997, developed from a script by Len Blum and Michael Kalesniko.[86] Directed by Betty Thomas, the film topped the box office in its opening weekend with a gross of $14.6 million, and $41.2 million in total.[87]Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a score of 79%.[88] For his performance, Stern won the 1998 Blockbuster Entertainment Award for "Favorite Male Newcomer" by a wide margin since the awards are given based on write-in votes. He was nominated for a Golden Satellite Award for "Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy)", and a Golden Raspberry Award for "Worst New Star".[89] On October 8, 1997, Stern filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against Ministry of Film Inc., claiming it recruited him for a movie titled Jane starring Melanie Griffith, while knowing it had insufficient funds. Stern, who was unpaid when production ceased, accused the studio of breach of contract, fraud and negligent representation.[90] A settlement was reached in August 1999, with Stern receiving $50,000.[91]
On April 1, 1998, Stern announced his return to Saturday night television with The Howard Stern Radio Show.[92] Broadcast across the country on CBS affiliates, it featured radio show highlights along with material unseen in his daily E! show. Airing at 11:30 pm, the show was a direct competitor with NBC's Saturday Night Live and Fox's MADtv for ratings. Concerned with its risqué content, the show began to lose affiliates after two episodes.[93] Making its launch on 79 stations on August 22, 1998, this number was reduced to 55 by June 1999.[94] A total of 84 episodes were broadcast.[95] The final re-run aired on November 17, 2001, to around 30 markets.[96][97]
From 2000–02, Stern was the executive producer of Son of the Beach, a sitcom which ran for three seasons on the FX network. Stern launched his own production company in June 1994 for original and joint production and development ventures.[98] In late 2001, the Howard Stern Production Co. was reportedly developing a new sitcom titled Kane.[99] The pilot episode was never filmed. In 2002, Stern acquired the rights to comedy films Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979) and Porky's (1982), neither has yet been re-made. He announced in early 2004 there were talks with ABC to produce an interview special which never materialized. He also intended to produce two cartoons, Doomsday[100] and Howard Stern: The High School Years,[101] though neither have made it to the airwaves. In 2009, Stern explained[citation needed] that he refused to agree to Flash animation over traditionally drawn cartoons.
A crackdown on indecency in broadcasting occurred following the controversial Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show on February 1, 2004. Increased control of content and broadcast delays led to Stern feeling "dead inside" creatively.[102] On October 6, Stern announced his move to Sirius Satellite Radio, a medium free from FCC regulations.[5] The five-year deal, beginning on January 1, 2006, allows Stern three channels and a $100 million-per-year budget for studio construction, production, and staff costs.[103] On January 9, 2006, his first broadcast on Sirius, a stock bonus worth $218 million was paid to Stern and his agent for surpassing a subscriber quota set in 2004.[104] Following his move to Sirius, Stern was included in the Time 100 list by Time magazine in May 2006 as part of the 100 most influential people in the world.[105] He was also ranked #7 in Forbes' "World's Most Powerful Celebrities" list.[106] Stern's contract with Sirius will expire at midnight on December 31, 2010.
On February 28, 2006, CBS Radio (formerly Infinity Broadcasting) filed a lawsuit against Stern, his agent, and Sirius, arguing that Stern promoted Sirius "to enrich himself unfairly".[107] The company sought compensatory and punitive damages, claiming Stern had "repeatedly and will-fully" breached his contract that "misappropriated millions of dollars worth [of air time]" for his own benefit, while "fraudulently concealing" his performance-related interests in Sirius stock. Stern held a press conference, discussing how CBS added to the media attention, booking him for appearances on Late Show with David Letterman and 60 Minutes. "I made them millions of dollars...If I was hurting them, why did they keep me on the air for fourteen months? How can you have it both ways?"[108] A disclosed settlement was reached on May 26, 2006, giving Sirius exclusive rights to Stern's master tapes of broadcasts at WXRK, totalling almost 23,000 hours.[109] The rights, costing $2 million, equates to $87 per-hour of tape.[110]
While attending Boston University, Stern developed an interest in Transcendental Meditation, which he practices to this day.[111] He credits it with aiding him in quitting smoking and achieving his goals in radio. He also is known for giving people hot feet while at synogogue for as long as can be remembered.[112] Stern has interviewed Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of the technique, twice in his career. His mother also learned the technique, claiming it cured her symptoms of depression.[113]
On June 4, 1978, Stern married Alison Berns at Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, Massachusetts, both 24 years old.[114] They have three daughters – Emily Beth (b. 1983), Debra Jennifer (b. 1986) and Ashley Jade (b. 1993).[115] On October 22, 1999, Stern announced their decision to separate.[116] They amicably divorced in 2001 that ended in a settlement.[116] Stern began a period of single living, dating a number of women including Angie Everhart and Robin Givens.[117][118] In 2000, Stern began dating model Beth Ostrosky, co-host of Casino Cinema from 2004 to 2007.[119] She also frequently appeared in the American edition of FHM.[120] On February 14, 2007, after a period of seven years, Stern announced their engagement.[116] They married on October 3, 2008, at Le Cirque restaurant in New York City.[121]
Stern regularly plays on the Internet Chess Club. He has taken on-line lessons from Dan Heisman, a chess master from Philadelphia.[122] He was invited as the first of four wildcard participants selected for the 2010 United States Chess Championships in St. Louis, Missouri.[123]
Stern's prevalent media presence has led to his being parodied or referenced in various outlets;
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