He is a cheap fuck who loses out on people and projects because he refuses to invest back into it. But do you really think Robin and Fred deserve equal pay to him? Or 50% of what he makes?
O&A had the same deal with SXM. That's just how it works for tax purposes with them. The O&A production company was paid by SXM and assigned them a salaried staff of Steve, Sam, Erik, etc. who were paid by SXM. Which is why they outlasted the show.
The pay should be 50% to Howard, and the other 50% shared among people like Robin, Fred, etc. equally.. which if you break down the numbers, is probably pretty close to what they make. If SXM is gonna flush their money like saps, why would you not take the deal. If Robin wants more money her agent would negotiate. She is well paid and has never made her finances a public concern.
Howard should have ensured that Jackie and Billy West remained on his show... They were both integral to his brand for many years. They were an instantly recognizable part of Howard's appeal going back to '88. Billy doing sketches on the channel 9 show, all the way to the iconic Jackie puppet, can't even mention his list of perfect impressions and the crazy shit he would say that Howard would die laughing at his own show as a spectator.
The fact that Billy West became the voice of Bugs Bunny and almost every famous character known to man is just proof Howard fucked himself over. Howard is a spiteful, evil creep. That's why New Yorkers like myself loved him. But he has been "ghosting" people since the 90's. Gilbert Gottfried, another famous voice, was his greatest regular guest. Appeared at least twice a year, always radio gold, great rapport with Artie. Howard put him on the paynomind list because in his old age he has a more psychotic internal monologue than ever. "Who is dis fuckin kike?? Coming on my show making me dump out, spitting on my cupcakes, and all over the wall. FUCK THAT KIKE!!!!" and then Howard stabbed the voodoo doll he made of Gilbert, and put it right next to his Artie one.