Every generation thinks this is the moment pop culture goes too far. From Elvis’s hip-shaking to Madonna’s boundary-pushing performances, from Marilyn Manson’s media-fueled controversies to Lady Gaga’s infamous meat dress—music has always been at the center of moral outrage.

In this episode of Even Line, we break down the biggest moral panics in pop music history, from the 1950s to today. Why do artists keep sparking outrage? Who fuels these panics? And why does society always seem to move on?

🎤 Topics Covered:

• The 1950s Elvis Presley scandal & why his hip movements were seen as a threat to American values

• The Satanic Panic & the PMRC’s Filthy Fifteen – when rock music was accused of corrupting the youth

• Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, & modern outrage cycles – why pop stars continue to push boundaries

• Lil Nas X, Doja Cat, & today’s controversies – how social media accelerates moral panics

📢 Join the Conversation! What’s the most ridiculous music-related moral panic you remember? Find @EvenLinePod on TikTok or drop a comment on Instagram! Episode sources:

Below is a concise list of sources you can include in your show notes:

1. Cohen, Stanley

Folk Devils and Moral Panics (1972) – Seminal sociological work on how moral panics arise.

2. Florida NewsLine (Scott A. Grant)

“Elvis ‘the Pelvis’ comes to Jacksonville” – Article detailing Elvis’s 1956 Jacksonville performance and its controversy.

3. Newsweek

“An Oral History: Tipper Gore’s War on Explicit Rock Lyrics” (2015) – Examination of the PMRC, the “Filthy Fifteen,” and the 1985 Senate hearings.

4. U.S. Senate Recordings/Transcripts (1985)

Testimony from musicians Dee Snider, Frank Zappa, and John Denver during hearings on rock music lyrics.

5. MTV Video Music Awards Archives

Coverage of Lady Gaga’s 2010 meat dress appearance and Miley Cyrus’s 2013 performance.

6. Rolling Stone

Articles documenting key pop culture controversies, including the PMRC era and modern-day moral panics.

7. BBC Culture / The Guardian

Various pieces analyzing moral panics and controversies surrounding artists like Lil Nas X and Doja Cat.