Sebastian Maniscalco Denies Role in SiriusXM Raw Comedy Shutdown
Sebastian Maniscalco said SiriusXM, not he, decided to end the Raw Comedy channel that his Comedy Radio replaced in April. His response came after Patton Oswalt, Margaret Cho, Michelle Wolf and Stand Up for Standup criticized the change. Maniscalco said he would work with SiriusXM to spotlight a broader range of stand-up comedians.
In April, Maniscalco's Comedy Radio took over SiriusXM Channel 99, formerly Raw Comedy/Raw Dog. The prior format was an unhosted jukebox rotating comic sets. The replacement is curated and headlined by Maniscalco and leans toward mainstream, well-known performers. This week, Stand Up for Standup, Patton Oswalt, Margaret Cho and Michelle Wolf urged him to restore Raw Comedy. Maniscalco replied Thursday via Instagram Stories.
SiriusXM confirmed Raw Comedy ended before Maniscalco joined, citing weak ratings. The advocacy group said comics received $15 per spin, passive royalties that helped careers. It also said the channel stopped drawing from over 800 comedians and now rotates a smaller monthly roster, with more than 75 percent of plays going to the top 50 artists and celebrity acts. SiriusXM said some Raw Comedy/Raw Dog comics may still appear on other comedy channels.
Count? First paragraph: In(1) April(2), Maniscalco's(3) Comedy(4) Radio(5) took(6) over(7) SiriusXM(8) Channel(9) 99(10), formerly(11) Raw(12) Comedy/Raw(13) Dog(14). The(15) prior(16) format(17) was(18) an(19) unhosted(20) jukebox(21) rotating(22) comic(23) sets(24). The(25) replacement(26) is(27) curated(28) and(29) headlined(30) by(31) Maniscalco(32) and(33) leans(34) toward(35) mainstream(36), well-known(37) performers(38). This(39) week(40), Stand(41) Up(42) for(43) Standup(44), Patton(45) Oswalt(46), Margaret(47) Cho(48) and(49) Michelle(50) Wolf(51) urged(52) him(53) to(54) restore(55) Raw(56) Comedy(5
The shift may affect working stand-ups who relied on Raw Comedy for exposure and modest royalties, potentially making it harder for newer voices to earn passive income. Listeners could encounter a narrower or more mainstream comedy mix, though Maniscalco's stated plan to feature emerging and established comics may broaden access if followed through. SiriusXM's role as a discovery platform for comedians could be reshaped, with consequences for who gets heard and paid. Count: The1 shift2 may3 affect4 working5 stand-ups6 who7 relied8 on9 Raw