Following the Sirius announcement, the dynamic of the show shifted immediately. Stern became openly critical of Infinity Broadcasting (his then-employer) and the FCC.
The One-Sentence Summary: 2004 is the year Howard Stern stopped being a "shock jock" and became a freedom-of-speech martyr, resulting in some of the most gripping, angry, and hilarious radio of his career. howard stern 2004 archive
To understand the value of the 2004 archive, you need the context of the era. By 2004, Howard Stern was already a multi-decade veteran, but he was also public enemy number one for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Following the infamous "Janet Jackson Super Bowl halftime show" (Nipplegate) in February 2004, the FCC went on a crusade against "indecency." Following the Sirius announcement, the dynamic of the
Stern became the primary target. Clear Channel Communications, a massive radio conglomerate, dropped his show from six of their stations. Fines mounted. Politicians condemned him on the floor of Congress. Within this pressure cooker, Stern did not cower; he doubled down. The One-Sentence Summary: 2004 is the year Howard
The Howard Stern 2004 archive captures this rebellion. It is the sound of a man who knew he was leaving for satellite radio soon, and therefore, he had nothing left to lose. The archives from this year are characterized by: