Comedian Liz Miele has recently experienced a significant drop in her income, which has also affected many other comedians. SiriusXM made the decision to discontinue its Raw Comedy/Raw Dog channel, which previously showcased over 800 comics on a rotating basis. The channel was replaced by a new one owned by A-list comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.
This change has left Miele and numerous working-class comedians without a crucial source of income and exposure, as the new channel now features predominantly wealthy celebrity comics. Miele shared how Sirius XM was instrumental in helping her financially during tough times and how it supported many comedians in making ends meet.
Despite promises from Maniscalco and SiriusXM to offer opportunities to comedians at various career stages, industry advocacy group Stand Up for Standup revealed a stark contrast in the numbers. Prior to the transition, Raw Comedy featured over 800 comedians monthly, each earning $15 US in royalties per play. However, the rebranded channel showcased only 275 comedians in the last month, with the top 50 artists receiving more than 75% of the plays.
Miele expressed her concern over the shift towards a concentration of wealth, highlighting that previously, a diverse range of comedians earned decent royalties, whereas now a select few earn significantly more, despite not needing it. She emphasized the importance of platforms like SiriusXM for nurturing upcoming talent and lamented the potential lack of opportunities for future generations.
Canadian comedian Danish Anwar echoed similar sentiments, noting a significant decrease in his royalties following the channel change. Many Canadian comics rely on SiriusXM royalties to sustain their careers, with some facing the possibility of returning to Canada due to the financial impact.
High-profile comedians such as Patton Oswalt, Michelle Wolf, and Marc Maron have called on Maniscalco to ensure emerging comedians have a platform to grow. Maniscalco, responding to the backlash, clarified that the decision to discontinue Raw Comedy was made by SiriusXM before his involvement.
As the comedy industry faces challenges, there is a growing call for unity and support among comedians to address issues such as fair pay and labor practices. The recent changes have had a significant financial impact on many comedians, emphasizing the need for solidarity and advocacy within the industry.