Comedian Liz Miele has recently faced a significant cut in her earnings, a situation that resonates with many others in the industry. SiriusXM has discontinued its Raw Comedy/Raw Dog channel, which used to showcase over 800 comedians on a rotating basis, and replaced it with a new channel controlled by renowned comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.
This change has left Miele and numerous other working-class comedians without a crucial source of income and exposure, as the spotlight now shines on wealthy celebrity comics. Miele shared with host Nil Köksal of As It Happens that SiriusXM was a lifeline for her during tough financial times last year, supporting not only her but also fellow comedians dealing with personal challenges like caring for sick family members or welcoming a new baby.
While Maniscalco and SiriusXM have pledged to provide opportunities for comedians at various career stages, industry advocacy group Stand Up for Standup has pointed out a disparity in the numbers. Previously, Raw Comedy featured over 800 comedians monthly, each earning $15 US in royalties per spin. However, the rebranded channel now showcases only 275 comedians, with a significant portion of plays going to the top 50 artists, including Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, and Jim Gaffigan.
Miele, once a top performer on the channel, expressed concerns about the current scenario, noting a concentration of wealth where a few comedians earn substantially more while many others struggle. She emphasized that platforms like SiriusXM are vital for nurturing future talents and lamented the potential hindrance the changes could pose for emerging comedians.
Canadian comedian Danish Anwar highlighted the financial impact on his income, revealing a drop of 30 to 40 percent following the channel’s transformation. He underlined the importance of SiriusXM royalties for Canadian comics trying to establish themselves in the U.S., pointing out potential challenges they might face, including visa issues, due to the loss of this revenue stream.
Various high-profile comedians, such as Patton Oswalt, Michelle Wolf, and Marc Maron, have urged Maniscalco to ensure opportunities for up-and-coming comedians on the channel. In response to the backlash, Maniscalco clarified that the decision to discontinue Raw Comedy was made by SiriusXM before his involvement, citing performance reasons.
In a bid to address concerns, Maniscalco committed to working with SiriusXM to provide a diverse range of voices in comedy on his channel, emphasizing his understanding of the challenges faced by comedians. While some remain skeptical about these promises, there is a call for unity and collective action within the comedy community to address broader issues like fair pay and industry practices.