Exciting news for Grand Theft Auto fans as leaks suggest DJ Khaled will host his own radio station in GTA 6, continuing Rockstar's tradition of celebrity-curated in-game music.
This development builds upon GTA V's impressive foundation of 27 radio stations that spanned virtually every genre across Los Santos Rock Radio to Non-Stop-Pop FM, Radio Los Santos, FlyLo FM, and even custom player stations through Self Radio.
GTA V initially featured 538 songs, which has since grown to over 750 tracks across all stations, setting an incredibly high bar that fans hope GTA 6 will meet or exceed.
Artist collaborations were a major highlight in GTA V, with notable names like Frank Ocean hosting "blonded," Flying Lotus curating "FlyLo," and other contributions from Tyler, The Creator, Kenny Loggins (who also hosted Los Santos Rock Radio), and A$AP Rocky.
Now, the reputable Call of Duty leaker TheGhostOfHope suggests that DJ Khaled and "other real-life artists to be included on their own radio stations."
The gaming community is already buzzing with speculation about additional potential artist collaborations, with The Weeknd and Nicki Minaj frequently mentioned as perfect fits for Vice City's Miami-inspired atmosphere.
Some artists are already confirming their participation in GTA 6's soundtrack, with rapper ScHoolboy Q announcing his involvement and T-Pain hinting at contributing in some capacity.
However, the music licensing process hasn't been without controversy. Last November, Heaven 17 co-founder Martyn Ware publicly rejected what he called a "pitiful" offer of just $7,500 per songwriter to use their 1983 hit "Temptation" in GTA 6.
Ware expressed initial excitement about the opportunity but was shocked by the low figure, especially considering GTA V has generated approximately $8.6 billion in revenue since its 2013 release.
Industry experts have weighed in on the dispute, with the Musicians' Union general secretary Naomi Pohl noting that such offers can be "disproportionately low" compared to how much profit these games generate.
Fan reactions to Ware's decision have been divided - many support the artist standing up for fair compensation, while others argue he missed an opportunity for exposure to a new generation of gamers.
Nevertheless, the radio stations in GTA games have always been more than just background music - they help establish the time period, enhance immersion, and provide commentary on the game world.
With Vice City's return, there's potential for both nostalgic callbacks to the 80s soundtrack from the original game and contemporary tracks that reflect modern Miami.
Take-Two has confirmed a Fall 2025 release window for GTA 6, giving developers time to finalize these music licensing deals and radio station concepts despite the ongoing controversies.
What artists would you like to see hosting their own radio stations in GTA 6? And do you think artists should accept lower licensing fees for the exposure, or should Rockstar pay more given the game's expected massive success?
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