Heaven 17’s Martyn Ware has claimed that he turned down $7,500 (£5,700) for the band’s song ‘Temptation’ to be included in the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI.
The singer and keyboardist, who founded the synthpop band in 1980, having previously been a founding member of The Human League, made it clear on X on Saturday (September 7) that he considered the offer to be anything but tempting.
“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,” Ware wrote.
“Naturally excited about the immense wealth that was about to head my way, I scrolled to the bottom of the email re the offer…”
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
“IT WAS $7500 – for a buyout of any future royalties from the game – forever…” he continued.
“To put this in context, Grand Theft Auto 6 grossed, wait for it… $8.6 BILLION.”
“Ah, but think of the exposure… Go fuck yourself,” he concluded.
IT WAS $7500 – for a buyout of any future royalties from the game – forever…
To put this in context, Grand Theft Auto 6 grossed, wait for it…
$8.6 BILLION
Ah, but think of the exposure…
Go fuck yourself
— Martyn Ware 🦉 (@martynware) September 7, 2024
The posts prompted discussions on social media, with Ware himself responding to some of the comments, arguing that he has worked in “artist rights advocacy” for 20 years, and so “knows the game”.
Simon Raymonde, formerly of Cocteau Twins and founder of Bella Union Records, implored Ware to reconsider, however.
“Martyn is it too late to change your mind?” he replied to Ware’s post. “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.”
Raymond went on to argue that 200 million people bought the last GTA, and having a song on the soundtrack could boost streaming performance “ten or twenty times what it is now”.
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
I wish you’d reconsider. Part of me understands but being in a band from a similar period I see these fees constantly & low as they are, that really is only a tiny part of what a sync / game use can do to the awareness of your music and GTA is the game everyone wants.
— Simon Raymonde (@mrsimonraymonde) September 7, 2024
“I wish you’d reconsider,” he concluded. “Part of me understands but being in a band from a similar period I see these fees constantly & low as they are, that really is only a tiny part of what a sync / game use can do to the awareness of your music and GTA is the game everyone wants.”
‘Temptation’ was a UK Number Two hit in 1983 for Heaven 17 and is considered one of the classics of the synthpop genre. It sold over 250,000 copies on its original release. It has since appeared in Trainspotting and has been covered by Jarvis Cocker and Beth Ditto, as well as La Roux.
Grand Theft Auto VI, meanwhile, is expected to be released in the second half of 2025.