Comedian Liz Miele recently faced a significant loss in earnings, joining a group of affected individuals. SiriusXM discontinued its Raw Comedy/Raw Dog channel, which showcased over 800 comedians on a rotating basis, and introduced a new channel owned by renowned comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.
This change has left Miele and numerous working-class comedians without a crucial source of income and visibility, while prominent celebrity comics dominate the space. Miele shared her financial struggles from the previous year, highlighting how SiriusXM had been instrumental in helping many comedians sustain themselves.
Despite promises from Maniscalco and SiriusXM to provide opportunities for comedians at various career stages, data from industry advocate group Stand Up for Standup paints a different picture. Prior to the transition, Raw Comedy featured over 800 comedians monthly, each earning $15 in royalties for every airing of their material.
However, the revamped channel only showcased 275 comedians in the last month, with the top 50 artists receiving more than 75% of the airplay, including renowned figures like Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, and Jim Gaffigan. The channel also includes content from deceased comedians such as Joan Rivers and Bob Newhart.
Miele expressed concern over the drastic shift, emphasizing the shift towards wealth concentration among a select group of comedians. She noted the diminishing opportunities for emerging talents without platforms like SiriusXM.
Canadian comedian Danish Anwar shared his experience of a significant drop in royalties, affecting his income and that of his colleagues. Many Canadian comedians rely on SiriusXM royalties to maintain their work visas while pursuing careers in the U.S., potentially facing the need to return to Canada due to the loss of this income stream.
High-profile comedians, including Patton Oswalt and Michelle Wolf, have urged Maniscalco to support emerging comedians and provide them with opportunities to grow. In response to the backlash, Maniscalco clarified that the decision to discontinue Raw Comedy was made by SiriusXM before his involvement, citing the channel’s underperformance.
Maniscalco committed to collaborating with SiriusXM to offer a platform for a diverse range of comedic voices, from emerging to established comedians. However, Anwar remains cautious, emphasizing the need for tangible actions over mere statements to address the financial impact on comedians.
In a call reminiscent of past advocacy efforts in Canadian comedy, comedian Steph Tolev encouraged U.S. comedians to speak out against the SiriusXM changes. While Anwar doubts the effectiveness of this approach with a U.S. company, he highlights the importance of solidarity within the comedy industry during challenging times.