Comedian Liz Miele recently faced a significant loss in earnings, a situation shared by many others. SiriusXM made the decision to discontinue its Raw Comedy/Raw Dog channel, which previously showcased over 800 comedians on rotation, replacing it with a new channel owned by renowned comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.
This move has resulted in a detrimental impact on Miele and numerous working-class comedians who relied on the channel for income and exposure. In a recent interview with Nil Köksal on As It Happens, Miele expressed how crucial SiriusXM was for her financial stability amidst challenging times for herself and fellow comedians facing various personal challenges.
While Maniscalco and SiriusXM claim the new channel will offer opportunities for comedians at different career stages, industry advocacy group Stand Up for Standup paints a different picture. Before the transition, Raw Comedy featured over 800 comedians monthly, each earning $15 in royalties per spin of their material. In contrast, the rebranded channel only showcased 275 comedians last month, with the top 50 artists, including Chris Rock and Kevin Hart, receiving over 75% of the plays.
Miele, a former top performer on the channel, highlighted the shift towards a concentration of wealth benefiting a select group of comedians while leaving many struggling. The impact is also felt by Canadian comedians like Danish Anwar, who saw a significant drop in royalties from the change.
Despite calls from prominent comedians like Patton Oswalt and Michelle Wolf for Maniscalco to support emerging talent, the decision to axe Raw Comedy was made by SiriusXM before his involvement. The company cited underperformance as the reason for the change.
The future remains uncertain for many comedians who relied on SiriusXM for income and exposure, with concerns raised about the impact on their careers and livelihoods. As the industry grapples with these challenges, solidarity among comedians may be crucial in navigating the changing landscape and advocating for fair treatment and compensation.
