: Stern famously labeled the crackdown a "McCarthy-type witch hunt," arguing he was being targeted for his vocal criticism of the Bush administration. The Sirius Announcement (October 6, 2004)
A of Stern's final week on terrestrial radio Information on how the "Get John's Job" contest unfolded A breakdown of Eric the Actor's most famous 2004 calls
The 2004 archive is defined largely by the fallout from the Super Bowl XXXVIII "wardrobe malfunction." Following that event, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched an unprecedented crackdown on "indecency" in broadcasting. Stern, long a target of regulators, found himself in the crosshairs. In February 2004, Clear Channel Communications—one of the largest radio syndicators—abruptly dropped Stern from six major markets following a $495,000 fine for allegedly indecent content. This period in the archive is marked by Stern’s palpable anger and his transition from an entertainer to a vocal political advocate for free speech. Political Activism and the "Get Out the Vote" Campaign howard stern 2004 archive
Before 2004, Howard Stern’s political commentary was largely transactional and localized. He supported candidates who did him favors or aligned with basic libertarian views. However, the FCC crackdown completely politicized the show.
The archive is also a goldmine for celebrity interactions that foreshadowed future headlines. Stern interviewed a pre-presidential Donald Trump multiple times in 2004. In one September 2004 chat, Stern famously asked Trump if he could refer to his daughter Ivanka as a "piece of ass," to which Trump laughed, "She's beautiful". In another April 2004 interview, Trump discussed The Apprentice , with Stern asking Trump if he wanted "to have sex with some of those chicks". : Stern famously labeled the crackdown a "McCarthy-type
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The 2004 archives capture Stern’s raw, unfiltered fury during this period. Day after day, listeners tuned in to hear Stern drag his corporate bosses at Viacom (Infinity Broadcasting) and rival executives over the coals. The show became a highly political, intensely localized battleground. Stern routinely criticized the George W. Bush administration, accusing the government of using the FCC to silence him due to his political dissent. Key themes preserved in these recordings include: In February 2004, Clear Channel Communications—one of the
If you want to understand why Howard Stern is considered the "King of All Media," you have to listen to 2004. It is the year he won the war before he even left the battlefield.
Here is the reality check for the archivist: