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An English artist has reacted to a purported offer from Rockstar Games to include his band Heaven 17’s 1983 song “Temptation” in Grand Theft Auto VI, saying the offer of $7,500 was “extremely low.”
Martyn Ware, 68, said on social media that he was recently contacted by his team to discuss an offer from Rockstar Games about the possibility of putting “Temptation” in GTA VI. Ware said he was “naturally excited about the immense wealth that was about to head my way,” that is, until he saw the actual offer: $7,500.
Ware said this amount would have covered “a buyout of any future royalties from the game–forever.” Ware went on to (incorrectly) state that GTA VI has already grossed $8.6 billion and that he believes he was low-balled because having the song in GTA VI could generate “exposure” for the song.
Ware’s response? “Go f**k yourself,” he said about the offer.
To be sure, GTA VI is not yet released and thus has generated $0. Ware is likely referring to GTA V, which is among the most successful video games of all time with more than 250 million copies sold. It cleared $1 billion in revenue after just 72 hours back in 2013. GTA VI is expected to be a juggernaut as well in terms of units sold and revenue.
Ware’s social media posts went viral, and he later offered a number of clarifications. Starting off, the $7,500 offer was for his share alone–the song has three credited writers, and they would also receive $7,500 for a total of at least $22,500. The other songwriters are Glenn Gregory and Ian Craig Marsh.
Ware labeled the offer “pathetic.” He said he attempted to engage in a counter-offer through his publisher, but Rockstar’s team refused, he said. He said had he been able to negotiate, he would have asked for £75,000, or no advance payment in exchange for a “reasonable” royalty on the number of GTA VI copies sold.
He also pointed out that the “exposure” angle wouldn’t have been agreeable to him, either, as even one million extra streams would have generated only $1,000 each for the three songwriters.
GameSpot has contacted Rockstar Games in an attempt to get more details on this matter.
GTA VI is set for release in Fall 2025. Every major Rockstar Games release over the past 10 years has been delayed past its original date.
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