There’s no telling what will inspire a song. Imagine someone sitting down with a newspaper or magazine. Or maybe the musician picks up a book or sees something on TV. They run across something outrageous, heinous, criminal.
Perhaps the story is about a grave injustice. Maybe it’s about a school shooting. It could have to do with a historical event. Or maybe the inspiration is the depravity of a serial killer.
They’re so moved by what they learned that they can’t help but write a song about it. These songs can then spread the word, seek justice, tell a story, correct the record, preserve history, or send a warning.
Although they’re not involved in the crimes themselves, they become chroniclers, investigators, journalists, and occasionally, activists.
This is episode 76 of Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry, and this time, it’s nine songs that tell the true stories of nine true crimes.
In addition to the podcasts, you can hear Uncharted on these Corus radio stations (all times local):
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- Toronto: AM 640 (4-5 am)
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- London: 980 CFPL (4-5 am)
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- Vancouver: 730 CKNW (1-2 am)
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- Edmonton: 630 CHED (1-2 am)
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- Calgary: QR77 (770 AM) (1-2 am)
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- Winnipeg: 680 CJOB (1-2 am)
And don’t forget about my current national speaking tour that will feature a live Uncharted podcast presentation. Get your tickets here. Â
© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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