Comics slam SiriusXM for cutting stand-up acts in new channel

Several prominent comedians are urging SiriusXM and comedian Sebastian Maniscalco to bring back its Raw Dog Comedy channel, which supported emerging talent through royalty payments.

SiriusXM replaced the channel in April with Maniscalco’s Comedy Radio, a 24/7 service featuring podcasts like The Sebastian Maniscalco Show and curated stand-up clips. Since then, the channel has featured far fewer comedians.

According to estimates from the nonprofit Stand Up for Standup, comedy acts dropped 66% from 812 in April to 275 in September.

Performers, including Patton Oswalt, Michelle Wolf, and Matthew Broussard, have criticized the shift on social media, pointing out that Raw Dog Comedy previously served as a crucial revenue stream for struggling comics by offering a passive income.

Usually, artists whose stand-up performances are featured receive about $15 in royalties each time they are played. These have largely vanished.

Maniscalco, whose recent tour stop at Madison Square Garden grossed $10.7 million, has not publicly responded.

Meanwhile, SiriusXM told Vulture that the relaunch introduces a new creative direction and that affected comedians will still find airtime across the radio’s other channels.