Don’t Play That Song is a music history podcast that uncovers the weird, wild and often shocking stories behind the songs that got banned from the radio.

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Each week we dig into the tracks that sparked outrage, triggered censorship or disappeared from playlists altogether. Not because they were bad, but because they said too much, went too far or hit a nerve.

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If you’ve ever wondered why The Beatles got censored by the BBC…
Why Loretta Lynn’s “The Pill” was too hot for country radio…
Or what made the FBI spend two years investigating “Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen…
This is the podcast for you.

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Every episode of Don’t Play That Song goes beyond the ban. We explore the artists, the cultural flashpoints, the lyrical landmines and the lasting impact of songs that challenged the status quo.

 

It's a mix of music history, cultural commentary and storytelling. Equal parts rebellious and revealing.

 

We're not here to whisper through the archives or treat music like a museum. We're here to talk honestly about the way songs shape us and the ways people try to shut them up.

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What You'll Hear

• Stories behind controversial tracks in rock, country, pop, punk, hip hop and more

• Deep dives into artists like Pearl Jam, Loretta Lynn, The Who, The Beatles, and beyond

• Cultural context: what was happening in the world when the song hit?

• The fallout: who banned it, why, and what happened next

 

If it got censored, pulled, silenced, or shouted down… we want to know why.

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Start Listening

New episodes drop weekly.
Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows.
And check out this page for full episode transcripts, behind-the-scenes content, and our official companion playlist—featuring all the songs we couldn't play on the show.