Martyn Ware, one of the founding members of Heaven 17, recently claimed that Rockstar Games offered the band $7,500 to use their song “Temptation” in Grand Theft Auto 6.
Ware shared this information on X (formerly Twitter), where he expressed his initial excitement upon hearing from his publishers about the potential offer. However, upon reading further, he discovered the payment would be $7,500 in exchange for a complete buyout of any future royalties from the game.
Ware sarcastically noted the contrast between this offer and the massive earnings of Grand Theft Auto V, which grossed $8.6 billion, adding, “Ah, but think of the exposure… Go f**k yourself.”
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To clarify, this deal would mean that Heaven 17 would allow Rockstar to use “Temptation” in the game for a one-time payment, with no additional royalties in the future.
The track would likely feature on GTA 6’s in-game radio stations. Ware’s tweet has ignited a debate online about whether the amount is fair. One Reddit user questioned if $7,500 was a low offer, given the exposure that could result from being featured in such a high-profile game, while another, /u/-Aone, criticized the offer, calling it “daytime robbery.”
I was recently contacted by my publishers on behalf of Rockstar Games re the possibility of using Temptation on the new Grand Theft Auto 6
Naturally excited about the immense wealth that was about to head my way, I scrolled to the bottom of the email re the offer…
— Martyn Ware 🦉 (@martynware) September 7, 2024
Despite the potential exposure, Heaven 17 appears to have decided that $7,500 is insufficient compensation. Meanwhile, there is speculation that Rockstar Games might forego the standard $70 price tag for GTA 6, given its reported $2 billion budget.
Throughout the years, Grand Theft Auto titles have featured music from major artists like Michael Jackson, Elton John, and Dr. Dre.
Compared to these big names, $7,500 seems relatively low, suggesting there may be different tiers of compensation. Nonetheless, Ware’s frustration stems from the feeling that his work is being undervalued despite his significant contributions to music.
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