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Sebastian Maniscalco’s SiriusXM channel is hurting up-and-coming talent, comics say
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Sebastian Maniscalco is facing backlash from fellow comedians who say his new SiriusXM channel is harming up-and-coming talent. Patton Oswalt, Margaret Cho, Liz Miele, Kyle Kinane, and Michelle Wolf have all criticized the change publicly.
SiriusXM launched Sebastian Maniscalco's Comedy Radio in April 2025, describing it as "curated and headlined by Sebastian himself." The channel replaced Raw Comedy, which featured uncensored stand-up from a wide pool of more than 800 comics.
Comedian Dan Soder said the new channel streams content from "very famous comics who are dead or who don't necessarily need the money." Stand Up for Standup, a nonprofit supporting comedians in need, reported that spins on the channel have shrunk from over 800 artists since March.
The organization said the pool now covers just 275 artists, largely skewed toward celebrities. It warned that the change hurts both emerging comedians who depend on royalties and the future of comedy itself.
Oswalt urged Maniscalco to reverse the decision in an Instagram video, noting that "500 of them have been booted off of Sirius." He called for young comedians to be returned to the channel so they can keep earning checks from airplay.
SiriusXM told Deadline that Maniscalco's channel "introduced a new creative direction and a regularly evolving programming mix." The company added that it continues to invest in comedians more than any other audio platform.
Neither SiriusXM nor Maniscalco's representatives immediately responded to The Verge's request for comment. With pressure mounting, the dispute could shape how satellite radio balances star power with opportunities for rising talent.
