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Radio Stations - Version 7 vs Version 8
May 27, 2026, 01:41 PM
Accuracy update (2026-05-27): cleaned up sentence fragments left from outlet-reference removal
May 27, 2026, 01:44 PM
Accuracy update (2026-05-27): restored connective text between adjacent bolded terms
11Radio Stations22Radio stations have been a core feature of every Grand Theft Auto game since GTA III, and Grand Theft Auto VI continues the tradition. Two named stations have been confirmed so far: V-Rock (returning from GTA: Vice City) and Coral Chorus (a new station confirmed by Rockstar). Both official trailers feature licensed music playing on in-car radios, and multiple real-world artists have publicly confirmed their involvement in the game's soundtrack.55Confirmed Stations77V-Rock99V-Rock is confirmed to return in GTA VI. In Trailer 2, Jason is seen wearing a V-Rock t-shirt, which is a clear nod to the station's return. V-Rock originally appeared in GTA: Vice City (2002) as a rock and metal station hosted by Lazlow Jones, featuring bands like Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, and Motley Crue. The station also appeared in GTA: Vice City Stories.1111Given GTA VI's return to Vice City and LeonidaV-Rock's inclusion connects the new game to its predecessor. The specific format and tracklist for V-Rock in GTA VI have not been revealed.1313Coral Chorus1515Coral Chorus was confirmed as a GTA VI radio station by Rockstar in May 2025. The station name suggests a tropical or Latin-influenced music format, fitting the Leonida setting. No tracklist or host details have been announced.1717Confirmed Trailer Songs1919Six songs have been positively identified across the two official trailers. Trailer 1 used a single featured track, while Trailer 2 incorporated multiple songs as brief radio snippets heard during driving sequences.2222SongArtistTrailerContextLove Is a Long RoadTom PettyTrailer 1Featured track for the entire trailer; Spotify streams surged roughly 37,000%Hot TogetherThe Pointer SistersTrailer 2Main featured song; Spotify streams surged 182,000% within two hoursEverybody Have Fun TonightWang ChungTrailer 2Brief car radio snippet during a driving sequenceThunder IslandJay FergusonTrailer 2Background radio snippet during a scene with JasonBrian HederTalkin' to Myself AgainTammy WynetteTrailer 2Radio snippet during Jason's driving sequenceChild SupportZenglenTrailer 2Haitian kompa track; plays as a radio snippet while Jason drives23+SongArtistTrailerContextLove Is a Long RoadTom PettyTrailer 1Featured track for the entire trailer; Spotify streams surged roughly 37,000%Hot TogetherThe Pointer SistersTrailer 2Main featured song; Spotify streams surged 182,000% within two hoursEverybody Have Fun TonightWang ChungTrailer 2Brief car radio snippet during a driving sequenceThunder IslandJay FergusonTrailer 2Background radio snippet during a scene with Jason and Brian HederTalkin' to Myself AgainTammy WynetteTrailer 2Radio snippet during Jason's driving sequenceChild SupportZenglenTrailer 2Haitian kompa track; plays as a radio snippet while Jason drives2424The inclusion of Zenglen's "Child Support" is particularly notable. Zenglen is a Haitian kompa band, and the song's presence in the trailer reflects Vice City's large Haitian community, mirroring real-life Miami's significant Haitian population. The variety of genres across the trailer songs (rock, pop, country, kompa, R&B) suggests a diverse radio dial.2525Only Raw Records2727Only Raw Records is an in-game hip-hop record label confirmed on the official Rockstar Games website. The label is run by two characters: Dre'Quan Priest (a former street-level dealer turned music industry figure) and Boobie Ike (who owns the Jack of Hearts strip club, real estatea recording studio). Only Raw Records represents a new direction for GTA's in-game music, where fictional record labels and artists exist within the game world.2929Real Dimez3131Real Dimez are a fictional rap duo signed to Only Raw Records. The duo consists of Bae-Luxe and Roxy, who appear in Trailer 1 dancing on top of a car during a street takeover scene. Their inclusion suggests that GTA VI features original fictional music alongside the licensed real-world tracks on its radio stations, similar to how GTA V's iFruit Radio featured fictional DJ appearances alongside real artists.3333Artist Self-Confirmations3535Several real-world musicians have publicly confirmed their involvement in GTA VI, though the specifics of their roles (radio station DJs, featured artists, or voice actors) vary.3737ArtistConfirmationDetailsT-PainTwitch livestreamConfirmed involvement on stream; said Rockstar asked him to stop playing on a third-party roleplay server because of his roleScHoolboy QX (Twitter)Replied to a fan in February 2024: "Ima be on there don't even trip"PanamaInstagram comment (since deleted)Confirmed their song "Back to Life" (co-written with Poolside) will appear; comment was deleted but widely screenshotted3939T-Pain's situation is especially interesting because Rockstar actively told him to step away from GTA RP content during the production period, suggesting his involvement is substantial enough to create a conflict of interest. Whether he is a radio host, a featured artist, or both remains unclear.4040Phil's Ammu-Nation Commercial4242Trailer 2 features what appears to be an in-game television commercial for Ammu-Nation. The ad shows a character who resembles Phil Cassidy, a recurring GTA character who first appeared in GTA: Vice City as a gun-running associate of Tommy Vercetti. In the original Vice City, Phil ran Phil's Place, a weapons business in Little Haiti. Phil also appeared in GTA: Vice City Stories and GTA: Liberty City Stories. The character in the Trailer 2 commercial pitches firearms in an over-the-top, infomercial style typical of GTA's satirical media content.4545Music Streaming Impact4747Both trailers had a measurable effect on real-world music streaming. Tom Petty's "Love Is a Long Road" (1989) saw its Spotify streams surge roughly 37,000% after Trailer 1's release in December 2023. The Pointer Sisters' "Hot Together" (1986) experienced an even larger spike of 182,000% within two hours of Trailer 2's release in May 2025. These numbers are consistent with the trailer viewership records documented in the awards and reception article.4949GTA Vice City Radio Legacy5151GTA: Vice City (2002) set the gold standard for in-game radio with nine themed stations and one talk radio station. The game's 1980s setting allowed Rockstar to license a massive catalog of hits from that decade. V-Rock, Wave 103, Flash FM, Fever 105, Emotion 98.3, Espantoso, Wildstyle, KCHAT, and VCPR became as iconic as the game itself.5353GTA VI's return to Vice City creates natural pressure to live up to that legacy. The confirmed presence of V-Rock directly ties the new game to its predecessor. Whether other Vice City-era stations return (Emotion 98.3, Flash FM, Espantoso) has not been confirmed. The addition of Haitian kompa music through Zenglen and a dedicated Latin-influenced station in Coral Chorus suggests the radio dial will reflect the broader cultural diversity of modern South Florida.5555Comparison to Previous GTA Radio5757GameStationsSongsNotable FeaturesGTA: Vice City9 music + 1 talk~1001980s licensed catalog; set industry standard for in-game radioGTA: San Andreas11 music + 1 talk~160Three cities with regional stations; K-DST, Radio Los SantosGTA IV16 music + 3 talk~200+Largest original launch catalog; Vladivostok FM for Eastern European musicGTA V15 music + 2 talk~240iFruit Radio added post-launch; flying Dutchman, DJ Pooh, Kenny Loggins hostedGTA VITBD (2+ confirmed)TBD (6+ confirmed)V-Rock returns; Coral Chorus confirmed; fictional label Only Raw Records
