The creators of Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar, have faced opposition from hackers, tabloids, and even US politicians, but they likely didn’t expect pushback from an 80s pop star.
That’s exactly what happened with Martyn Ware, a key figure from the synth-pop band Heaven 17.
He informed followers on X that he had turned down a “pitiful” offer from the video game company to use the group’s 1983 top ten hit “Temptation” in the upcoming GTA 6.
In a series of posts, Ware revealed that he and two co-writers had been offered $22,500 (£17,200) collectively—$7,500 each before deducting fees.
He called the one-time payment “pathetic,” given the massive earnings from the game’s predecessor, and said Rockstar refused to negotiate for a higher amount.
While many supported the musician, some comments suggested the band had lost a chance to reach a new generation of fans.
Artists typically use synchronisation licenses—or sync deals—to allow their music to be featured in games, movies, TV shows, or advertisements.
Licensing expert Alex Tarrand told BBC Newsbeat that this system has been around for decades, but can be “challenging” to navigate due to the lack of transparency.
“The scale is so wide,” says Alex, who has worked with gaming brands like Xbox, Disney, and EA.
“I’ve heard of sync licences from really, really indie artists being a couple of thousand dollars.
“I’ve heard of sync licences from major artists going into the millions and going from six digits into seven digits, astronomically higher.”
This lack of transparency creates challenges, Alex explained, as neither party knows the other’s expectations for payment.
It raises the difficult question: “how much is this song worth?”
The game company will usually consider how the song will be used. Will it be played on the title screen, in a crucial cinematic scene, or loop during regular gameplay?
Martyn Ware didn’t specify how Rockstar intended to use his track and declined further comment when contacted by BBC Newsbeat.
Rockstar also didn’t respond to requests for comment, but it is believed the song would have been among the many original and licensed tracks on GTA 6’s in-game radio stations.
In his tweet, Martyn noted that GTA 5 has reportedly earned $8.6 billion since its release in 2013.
