Comedians urge Sebastian Maniscalco to restore SiriusXM radio royalty pipeline

Stand-up comedians including Patton Oswalt and Michelle Wolf are calling on comedian Sebastian Maniscalco to reverse a SiriusXM channel rebrand that has eliminated a royalty pipeline for working comics, The Hollywood Reporter reported. In April, Maniscalco's Comedy Radio replaced SiriusXM Channel 99, which was previously known as Raw Comedy or Raw Dog. Page Six, the New York Post, The Verge, and SSBCrack also reported that Maniscalco and SiriusXM face growing pressure from comics regarding the network shakeup. [1][3][4][5][6]

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Oswalt and Wolf stated that the former channel served as a key venue where up-and-coming comedians received regular airplay and royalty distributions. SSBCrack reported that the channel replacement cut hundreds of working comedians off the air and ended their ongoing royalty checks. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Maniscalco has shown little reaction to the appeals from fellow performers. [1][6]

Wolf has worked as a writer and contributor on Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, hosted the Netflix series The Break with Michelle Wolf, and performed as the featured act at the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner. Oswalt starred as Spence Olchin in the sitcom The King of Queens, narrated The Goldbergs, and appeared on A.P. Bio and Drunk History. [2][8][9]

Page Six reported that both Maniscalco and SiriusXM currently appear unmoved by the pay pleas from the comedy community. The outcome of the dispute remains unresolved as comics continue to press for the restoration of satellite radio royalty pipelines. [1][3][4][5][6]