Inside Howard Stern’s Short (But Important) Stint At A Detroit Radio Station

Howard Stern has been on the radio for over 50 years, and his impact on the medium earned him a spot in the Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. By creating the "shock jock" personality and a culture-breaking format, Stern turned radio on its head. Even after spending 20 years on satellite radio, Stern has maintained his popularity, as evidenced by his recent 3-year contract extension on SiriusXM.

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But he may never have gotten to that point if he hadn't had a brief (but important) stint at a Detroit radio station in 1980. Here's why Howard Stern's time at WWWW-FM is so memorable despite being there for less than a year.

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Howard Stern's Brief (But Important) Time At WWWW-FM

Stern got his start fresh out of Boston University, bouncing around to a few different stations. After a contract dispute in Hartford, CT, he left that area to bring his show to WWWW-FM (W4) in Detroit. According to the book Stern: King Of All Media, he went to Detroit in April 1980, and this was reportedly where he honed his radio craft.

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Stern did his style of comedy but also navigated historical moments like John Lennon's murder, a moment documented during his time on W4. His raw, unscripted reaction to the killing showcased his more human approach to radio. His time in Detroit was short, not because of his performance, but because the station "abruptly switched formats" from rock to country. Stern's star was bright, and he left the station to continue in the format he loved.

His next stop in DC was what made him a household name, but he may not have gotten there if it weren't for W4 in Detroit.