Title: Outcry in Comedy Community Over SiriusXM’s Programming Change
Published Date: Oct. 8, 2026, 3 AM PT
By Christina Catherine Martinez
On Monday, a wave of professional stand-up comedians took to Instagram and TikTok, expressing their anger over a recent SiriusXM programming change affecting their livelihoods. In April, the Raw Comedy channel, which previously featured a diverse lineup of over 800 comedians, was transformed into Sebastian Maniscalco’s Comedy Radio. This shift cut about 500 comics from the lineup without any prior notice.
Liz Miele, a comedian involved in the coordinated protest, reported a dramatic drop in royalties, predicting future payouts could vanish altogether. She received the news from her label, Ghost Runner, and noted a troubling response from some audiences, who view these concerns as complaints rather than a necessary fight for artistic representation.
Unlike streaming platforms struggling with fractional royalties, SiriusXM traditionally offered significant revenue—$15 per track play—for comics, making it a vital income source for many working comedians. However, the recent cuts are alarming, as they push out the middle-class comedians who often work local clubs and indie shows, emphasizing the need for variety in comedic voices.
Comedian Jasmine Ellis highlighted the importance of the Raw channel, which showcased diverse comedic styles often shunned by mainstream channels. SiriusXM’s claims of rebranding to address an “underperforming” channel fail to recognize the uniqueness and creativity inherent in lesser-known comedy.
As the landscape of comedy narrows, concerns grow over the future of artistic expression within the industry. Martinez argues that the decline of variety could lead to a stagnant comedy scene dominated by big names, ultimately reducing audiences’ options and experiences.
In a recent message, Maniscalco acknowledged the discontent and promised to feature a range of voices on his channel, yet the broader issue of narrowing distribution avenues remains unresolved.
As the comedy community grapples with these changes, the conversation continues about the implications of corporate monopolization in creative fields, emphasizing the need for diverse voices in stand-up comedy to keep the art form alive and relevant.
Christina Catherine Martinez is a writer, critic, and comedian, with her stand-up hour “Modern Times” scheduled for performance on Oct. 23 at 2220 Arts + Archives.
