How much does it cost to licence a song for a video game? What if it’s for likely the biggest video game in history?
It’s a question many have tried to answer in the last few days, after The Human League and Heaven 17 founding member Martyn Ware was offered what he felt was a measly sum for the inclusion of one of his songs in the forthcoming sixth entry in the Grand Theft Auto series.
Ware feels as though what he was offered for Heaven 17’s 1983 single Temptation pales in comparison to the total revenue GTA 6 is sure to bring in, prompting many to question his grasp of the potential non-monetary benefits such a feature may bring.
“I was recently contacted by my publishers on behalf of Rockstar Games [regarding] the possibility of using Temptation on the new Grand Theft Auto 6,” he writes in a new post on X.
“Naturally excited about the immense wealth that was about to head my way, I scrolled to the bottom of the email [regarding] the offer… It was $7,500! For a buyout of any future royalties from the game – forever…
He goes on, “To put this in context, Grand Theft Auto [5] grossed, wait for it… $8.6 BILLION. ‘Ah, but think of the exposure.’ Go fuck yourself.”
MusicTech reached out to Martyn Ware for comment, which he declined.
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
Many gaming publications estimate that GTA 6 is likely to become one of the best-selling video games of all time. It’s been over a decade since the release of GTA V in 2013 — which is still reportedly pulling over 30 million monthly users — and hype has been building for its sequel for years. Indeed, when the launch trailer for No. 6 dropped on YouTube in December 2023, it garnered over 100 million views in 24 hours and currently sits at 208 million views at the time of writing. You can see why Ware claims that he should be entitled to more than the $7,500 he’s been offered for his song.
But online commenters also feel that due to the sheer number of people who stand to hear it, the “exposure” argument also has legs.
“GTA isn’t out yet, and when it releases [it] will be the most purchased video game of all time. You missed out on millions of listeners,” one user writes.
gta6 isn’t out yet, and when it releases will be the most purchased video game of all time, you missed out on millions of listeners
— beatdropkilla (@beatdropkilla) September 8, 2024
“You were also offered $7,500 for a song out of hundreds on the radio people will hear randomly while driving,” another says. “GTA 5 made $8.6 billion dollars because it’s GTA 5, not because of the soundtrack. Now you get nothing and look dumb for the entire internet.”
It’s also rare that a publisher would pay a flat fee for licensing; a number of factors are at play, like placement within the game, for example. Is it heard at a key moment in the story, which every player will hear if they play the full game? Or is it just one of many songs on GTA Radio, which features many in-game “stations”, many of which are not default, and must be selected to be listened to? The variables quickly stack up, and the fee ultimately paid by the publisher to the rights holder fluctuates in accordance.
As another user points out, GTA 5 had “around 440” licensed songs, and thus the total spent by Rockstar on licensing added up quickly. “Really that fee for one (albeit brilliant) song is normal,” they write. “Might seem low but if they pay $7,500 each then that’s $3.3 million on the music alone. The fee in my honest opinion is irrelevant. 200 million people…”
Martyn is it too late to change your mind? GTA had around 440 songs in the last game so really that fee for 1 (albeit brilliant) song is normal. Might seem low but if they pay $7500 each then that’s 3.3 million on the music alone. The fee imho is irrelevant. 200 million people …
— Simon Raymonde (@mrsimonraymonde) September 7, 2024
Another user asserts that exposure is not a valid form of payment, particularly from a company which stands to make such a large profit from its forthcoming title.
“You did good,” they tell Ware. “That is no way to evaluate art, especially from the creator of a game that will likely make over a billion dollars on its launch night.
“Exposure isn’t payment, because while there’s a chance you could get more famous being included in such a big project, there’s an even bigger chance you’d be treated as just another random song on the game’s radio that people won’t care to Shazam and listen to. Unless they’re willing to offer royalties, it isn’t worth it.”
It’s unclear whether negotiations will be had between Martyn Ware and Rockstar Games, but given Ware’s tone, and the fact he’s aired his grievances about the initial offer on social media, we’d assume at this point that the offer is now off the table.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is currently set to arrive in autumn 2025, though rumours are floating about that it may be delayed further to 2026.
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