GTA III Radio Stations

The Definitive Grand Theft Auto Radio Stations & Soundtrack Retrospective

The in-game radio dial of the 3D-era Grand Theft Auto series revolutionized video game audio design. Rather than relying on repetitive background loops, Rockstar North turned vehicle radios into living broadcast networks complete with charismatic DJs, biting satire commercials, station imaging, and historic licensed soundtracks that defined early-2000s and 1980s pop culture.

Quick Section Navigation:
Part 1: Grand Theft Auto III (Liberty City, 2001)  |  Part 2: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (1986)

Part 1: Grand Theft Auto III (Liberty City, 2001)

Overview & Audio Innovations

Set in gloomy 2001 Liberty City, GTA III introduced dynamic vehicle radio reception featuring 9 selectable stations, commercial spoofs, and live emergency dispatch scanners in police vehicles. The title broke industry ground with gaming's first dedicated 24-hour talk radio station (Chatterbox FM) and custom user MP3 support. Music was composed primarily in-house by Craig Conner and Stuart Ross, supplemented by licensed hip-hop, drum 'n' bass, dub, and classical masterpieces.

Liberty City Radio Stations

1. Head Radio

Host: Michael Hunt Pop & Alternative Rock

The flagship commercial pop and soft-rock station of Liberty City, delivering upbeat anthems through Portland, Staunton, and Shoreside Vale.

  • 1. Dil-Don't – "Stripe Summer" (2001) · Written by Craig Conner
  • 2. Whatever – "Good Thing" (2001) · Written by Allan Walker, Craig Conner
  • 3. Craig Gray – "Fade Away" (2001) · Written by Stuart Ross
  • 4. Conor & Jay – "Change" (2001) · Written by Craig Conner, Julie Wemyss
  • 5. Frankie Fame – "See Through You" (2001) · Written by Craig Conner
  • 6. Scatwerk – "Electronic Go Go" (2001) · Written by Stuart Ross
  • 7. Dezma – "Life Is But A Mere Supply" (2001) · Written by Craig Conner

2. Double Clef FM

Host: Morgan Merryweather Classical & Italian Opera

The favorite station of the Leone Mafia family in Saint Mark's, broadcasting legendary Italian opera arias and classical overtures.

  • 1. W.A. Mozart – "Le Nozze di Figaro: Non più andrai" (1786) · Coro di Roma della RAI, Zubin Mehta
  • 2. Giacomo Puccini – "Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro" (1918) · PS2 only · Coro di Milano della RAI
  • 3. Giuseppe Verdi – "La traviata: Libiamo ne' lieti calici" (1853) · Nino Verchi, Renata Scotto, José Carreras
  • 4. Gaetano Donizetti – "Lucia di Lammermoor: Chi mi frena" (1835) · Luciano Pavarotti, Renata Scotto (1967)
  • 5. Giuseppe Verdi – "Rigoletto: La donna è mobile" (1851) · Luciano Pavarotti, Carlo Maria Giulini (1966)
  • 6. W.A. Mozart – "Don Giovanni: Finch'han del vino" (1787) · Carlo Maria Giulini, Alfredo Kraus (1970)

3. K-JAH (Jah Radio)

Host: Horace "The Pacifist" Walsh Roots Reggae & Dub

Deep basslines and psychedelic tape echoes straight from Scientist's 1981 masterwork Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires.

  • 1. Scientist – "Dance of the Vampires" (1981)
  • 2. Scientist – "Your Teeth In My Neck" (1981)
  • 3. Scientist – "The Corpse Rises" (1981)
  • 4. Scientist – "The Mummy's Shroud" (1981)
  • 5. Scientist – "Plague of Zombies" (1981)

4. Rise FM

Host: Andre the Accelerator Trance & Progressive House Mixed by Terry Donovan

A continuous, non-stop underground rave broadcast recorded live from Planet E nightclub in Harwood.

  • 1. Chris Walsh & Dave Beran – "Shake (Revolt Clogrock Remix)" (2001) · Loops end-to-end
  • 2. Shiver – "Deep Time" (2000)
  • 3. R.R.D.S. – "Innerbattle" (2001)
  • 4. Slyder – "Score (Original Mix)" (2000)
  • 5. Slyder – "Neo (The One)" (2000)

5. Lips 106

Host: Andee Top 40 Pop, Funk & Dance

Liberty City's energetic mainstream pop dial, featuring in-house dance hits and the official vocal theme from the original 1997 Grand Theft Auto.

  • 1. Fatamarse – "Bump To The Music" (2001) · Written by Craig Conner
  • 2. April's In Paris – "Feels Like I Just Can't Take No More" (2001) · Written by Craig Conner
  • 3. Lucy – "Forever" (2001) · Written by Stuart Ross
  • 4. Boyz 2 Girlz – "Pray It Goes Ok?" (2001) · Written by Craig Conner
  • 5. Da Shootaz – "Grand Theft Auto" (1997) · Original GTA 1 Theme Song
  • 6. Funky BJs – "Rubber Tip" (2001) · Written by Stuart Ross

6. Game Radio

Hosts: Stretch Armstrong & Lord Sear Underground East Coast Hip-Hop

Authentic NYC boom-bap hip-hop mixed live by DJ Stretch Armstrong, featuring prominent real-world MCs and freestyles.

  • 1. Royce Da 5'9" – "We're Live (Danger)" (2001)
  • 2. Nature – "Nature Freestyle" (2001)
  • 3. JoJo Pellegrino – "JoJo Pellegrino Freestyle" (2001)
  • 4. Royce Da 5'9" & Pretty Ugly – "Spit Game" (2001)
  • 5. Royce Da 5'9" – "I'm the King" (1999)
  • 6. Black Rob – "By a Stranger" (2000)
  • 7. Agallah & Sean Price – "Rising to the Top" (2001)

Instrumental Beds: Reef – "Scary Movies" (1998) • Rush – "Instrumental Bed 1" (2001) • Rush – "Instrumental Bed 2" (2001).

7. MSX FM

Host: MC Codebreaker Drum 'n' Bass & Jungle Mixed by DJ Timecode

Frenetic breakbeats and jungle anthems licensed directly from Rob Playford's iconic UK imprint Moving Shadow.

  • 1. Calyx – "Quagmire" (2001)
  • 2. Rascal & Klone – "Get Wild" (2000)
  • 3. Ryme Tyme – "Judgement Day" (2000)
  • 4. Hex – "Force" (2000)
  • 5. Omni Trio – "First Contact" (2001)
  • 6. Aquasky – "Spectre" (2001)
  • 7. Rascal & Klone – "Winner Takes All" (2000)
  • 8. Ryme Tyme – "T Minus" (2000)
  • 9. nCode – "Spasm" (1999)
  • 10. D. Kay – "Monolith" (2000)
  • 11. Dom & Ryme Tyme – "Iceberg" (2000)

8. Flashback 95.6

Host: Toni 1980s Pop & Scarface OST

A retro nostalgic station entirely comprised of Giorgio Moroder's iconic synthesizer soundtrack from the 1983 motion picture Scarface.

  • 1. Debbie Harry – "Rush Rush" (1983) · Club Babylon theme
  • 2. Elizabeth Daily – "Shake It Up" (1983)
  • 3. Paul Engemann – "Scarface (Push It to the Limit)" (1983) · Iconic montage anthem
  • 4. Amy Holland – "She's On Fire" (1983)
  • 5. Elizabeth Daily – "I'm Hot Tonight" (1983)

9. Chatterbox FM & Custom Radio

Host: Lazlow Jones Talk Radio & User Audio

Chatterbox FM: The landmark open-mic talk station where host Lazlow fields unhinged phone calls from vegetarian activists, killer-bee paranoiacs, and martial artists.

Credited Guest Voice Cast: Lucien Jones, Karin Bykowski, Hank Stewart, Abbi Davis, Mellowvision.com, Paul Maloney, bernieS, Frank Fava, Kit Halsted, Joe Casalino, Dan Houser, Jay Crutcher, Frank Chavez, DJ Rush, A.M. Watson, Laura Bykowski, Navid Khonsari, Sherry Wohglmuth, Porkchop, Renaude Sebbane, Kyle Machlachlan, Sabby, Kim Schaefer, Debi Mazar, Nick Mandelos, David Connell, Reed Tucker, Jennifer Kolbe, Ami Plasse, Keith Broadus, Cameo Carlson, JD Leeds, Michael Madsen.

Custom Radio Specs: On PC (MP3 Player), files placed in mp3/ play alphabetically without skip options. On original Xbox (CD Changer), music ripped directly from audio CDs to the hard drive can be cycled in vehicles via the D-pad.

GTA III Incidental Music, Commercials & Trivia

Beyond vehicle radio, Liberty City features an intricate layer of incidental tracks, satire commercials, and audio easter eggs:

  • Incidental & Cutscene Tracks: Marydancin's "Wash Him Off" (cut from Lips 106, sung by paramedic NPCs); Rev. Rooney's "God Bless All the Universe" (reused from GTA 1 as a Lips 106 bed); TJ Rizing's "Agent 007"; Animal Testing Centre's "DSP" (heard during the "Chaperone" warehouse rave); Tom Novy's "Back to The Streets" (German TV commercial); Derrick May's "Kaotic Harmony" (reveal trailer); and Leoncavallo's "I Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba" (Japanese TV commercial).
  • Commercial Satire: Written by Dan Houser and Lazlow, spoofing consumer crazes like Petsovernight.com (delivering live animals in boxes), Sue Your Boss (fraudulent workplace litigation), Fernando's New Beginnings, and Liberty City Survivor (a battle royale reality show with paroled convicts).
  • Billboard Radio Stations: Fictional in-game billboards advertise non-selectable stations: Liberty FM, WLLC The Zone 34.9 FM, and Liberty Soul FM.
  • Soundtrack Trivia: The game features 56 total songs (55 original/licensed and 1 returning GTA theme). The oldest composition in the entire GTA series is Mozart’s 1786 aria on Double Clef FM.

Part 2: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (1986)

Soundtrack Overview & Re-release Licensing

Set in pastel-soaked 1986, Vice City pivoted from in-house tracks to a legendary licensed soundtrack spanning new wave, hair metal, electro-funk, post-disco, and Latin jazz. With 103 licensed tracks, it became the benchmark for period-authentic game audio. Due to 10-year master license expirations, tracks marked with an asterisk (*) were omitted from post-2012 mobile and Definitive Edition releases. Wave 103 is the only station that preserved 100% of its original tracklist across all versions.

Vice City Radio Stations

1. Wildstyle (Wildstyle Pirate Radio)

Host: Mr. Magic Old-School Hip-Hop & Electro

Pioneering 1980s street electro, breakdance anthems, and early turntable scratching broadcast from a pirate antenna.

  • 1. Trouble Funk – "Pump Me Up" (1980)
  • 2. Davy DMX – "One for the Treble (Vocal Mix)" (1984)
  • 3. Cybotron – "Clear" (1983)
  • 4. Hashim – "Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)" (1983)
  • 5. Herbie Hancock – "Rockit" (1983) * Cut in re-releases
  • 6. Afrika Bambaataa & Soul Sonic – "Looking for the Perfect Beat" (1983) *
  • 7. 2 Live Crew – "Get It Girl" (1986)
  • 8. Run-D.M.C – "Rock Box" (1984)
  • 9. Mantronix – "Bassline (Club Version)" (1985)
  • 10. Tyrone Brunson – "The Smurf" (1982) * Cut in re-releases
  • 11. Whodini – "Magic's Wand" (1982)
  • 12. Zapp & Roger – "More Bounce to the Ounce" (1980)
  • 13. Grandmaster Flash & Furious Five – "The Message" (1982)
  • 14. Kurtis Blow – "The Breaks" (1980)
  • 15. Man Parrish – "Hip Hop, Be Bop (Don't Stop) (Acid House Remix)" (1982/1988)

2. Flash FM

Host: Toni 1980s Pop & New Wave Hits

The defining sound of Vice City, blaring out of convertibles along Ocean Drive and Starfish Island.

  • 1. Hall and Oates – "Out of Touch (Video Mix)" (1984)
  • 2. Wang Chung – "Dance Hall Days" (1982)
  • 3. Michael Jackson – "Billie Jean" (1982) * Cut in re-releases
  • 4. Laura Branigan – "Self Control" (1984)
  • 5. Go West – "Call Me" (1985)
  • 6. INXS – "Kiss the Dirt" (1985)
  • 7. Bryan Adams – "Run to You" (1984)
  • 8. Electric Light Orchestra – "Four Little Diamonds" (1983)
  • 9. Yes – "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (1983)
  • 10. The Buggles – "Video Killed the Radio Star" (1979)
  • 11. Aneka – "Japanese Boy" (1981)
  • 12. Talk Talk – "Life's What You Make It" (1986)
  • 13. The Outfield – "Your Love" (1985)
  • 14. Joe Jackson – "Steppin' Out" (1982)
  • 15. The Fixx – "One Thing Leads to Another" (1983)
  • 16. Lionel Richie – "Running with the Night" (1983) · PS2 & Definitive

3. Fever 105

Host: Oliver "Ladykiller" Biscuit Disco, Soul, Funk & R&B

Velvet grooves, slap bass, and disco dancefloor anthems playing inside the neon-lit Malibu Club.

  • 1. The Whispers – "And the Beat Goes On" (1979)
  • 2. Fat Larry's Band – "Act Like You Know" (1982)
  • 3. Oliver Cheatham – "Get Down Saturday Night" (1983)
  • 4. Pointer Sisters – "Automatic" (1983)
  • 5. René & Angela – "I'll Be Good" (1985)
  • 6. Mary Jane Girls – "All Night Long" (1983)
  • 7. Rick James – "Ghetto Life" (1981)
  • 8. Michael Jackson – "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (1982) * Cut in re-releases
  • 9. Evelyn "Champagne" King – "Shame" (1977)
  • 10. Teena Marie – "Behind the Groove" (1980)
  • 11. Mtume – "Juicy Fruit" (1983)
  • 12. Kool & the Gang – "Summer Madness" (1974)
  • 13. Indeep – "Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life" (1982)

4. V-Rock

Host: Lazlow Jones Hard Rock, Glam & Heavy Metal

Screaming guitars and heavy metal anthems hosted by a young Lazlow, featuring Vice City's fictional Scottish rockers Love Fist.

  • 1. Twisted Sister – "I Wanna Rock" (1984)
  • 2. Mötley Crüe – "Too Young to Fall in Love" (1983)
  • 3. Quiet Riot – "Cum On Feel the Noize" (1983)
  • 4. The Cult – "She Sells Sanctuary" (1985)
  • 5. Ozzy Osbourne – "Bark at the Moon" (1983) * Cut in re-releases
  • 6. Love Fist – "Dangerous Bastard" (Allan Walker)
  • 7. Iron Maiden – "2 Minutes to Midnight" (1984)
  • 8. Loverboy – "Working for the Weekend" (1981)
  • 9. Alcatrazz – "God Blessed Video" (1985)
  • 10. Tesla – "Cumin' Atcha Live" (1986)
  • 11. Autograph – "Turn Up the Radio" (1984)
  • 12. Megadeth – "Peace Sells" (1986)
  • 13. Anthrax – "Madhouse" (1985)
  • 14. Slayer – "Raining Blood" (1986)
  • 15. Judas Priest – "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" (1982)
  • 16. Love Fist – "Fist Fury" (Allan Walker)
  • 17. David Lee Roth – "Yankee Rose" (1986)

5. Wave 103

Host: Adam First New Wave, Synth-Pop & Post-Punk 100% Intact Tracklist

Moody synthesizers and dark post-punk. Notably, Wave 103 is the only station with zero license expirations across every GTA release.

  • 1. Frankie Goes to Hollywood – "Two Tribes" (1984)
  • 2. Sigue Sigue Sputnik – "Love Missile F1-11" (1986)
  • 3. Gary Numan – "Cars" (1979)
  • 4. The Human League – "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" (1983)
  • 5. Blondie – "Atomic" (1979)
  • 6. Nena – "99 Luftballons" (1983)
  • 7. Kim Wilde – "Kids in America" (1981)
  • 8. Tears for Fears – "Pale Shelter" (1983)
  • 9. Corey Hart – "Sunglasses at Night" (1983)
  • 10. ABC – "Poison Arrow" (1982)
  • 11. A Flock of Seagulls – "I Ran (So Far Away)" (1982)
  • 12. The Psychedelic Furs – "Love My Way" (1982)
  • 13. Animotion – "Obsession" (1984)
  • 14. Spandau Ballet – "Gold" (1983)
  • 15. Thomas Dolby – "Hyperactive!" (1984)
  • 16. Romeo Void – "Never Say Never" (1981)

6. Emotion 98.3

Host: Fernando Martinez Power Ballads & Soft Rock

Smooth late-night yacht rock and emotional anthems for midnight speedboat runs along the shoreline.

  • 1. Foreigner – "Waiting for a Girl Like You" (1981)
  • 2. Kate Bush – "Wow" (1978) * Cut in re-releases
  • 3. Squeeze – "Tempted" (1981)
  • 4. REO Speedwagon – "Keep On Loving You" (1980)
  • 5. Cutting Crew – "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" (1986)
  • 6. Roxy Music – "More Than This" (1982)
  • 7. Toto – "Africa" (1982)
  • 8. Mr. Mister – "Broken Wings" (1985)
  • 9. John Waite – "Missing You" (1984)
  • 10. Jan Hammer – "Crockett's Theme" (1986) · Miami Vice Anthem
  • 11. Night Ranger – "Sister Christian" (1983)
  • 12. Luther Vandross – "Never Too Much" (1981)

7. Radio Espantoso

Host: Pepe Latin Jazz, Mambo & Salsa

Spanish-language Latin jazz and salsa echoing from the open windows and bodegas of Little Havana.

  • 1. Cachao – "A Gozar Con Mi Combo" (1994)
  • 2. Alpha Banditos – "The Bull is Wrong" (Stuart Ross)
  • 3. Tres Apenas Como Eso – "Yo Te Miré" (Craig Conner)
  • 4. Deodato – "Latin Flute" (1973)
  • 5. Mongo Santamaría – "Mama Papa Tú" (1969)
  • 6. Mongo Santamaría – "Me and You Baby (Picao y Tostao)" (1969)
  • 7. Machito Orchestra – "Mambo Mucho Mambo" (1952)
  • 8. Unaesta – "La Vida Es Una Lenteja" (Craig Conner)
  • 9. Lonnie Liston Smith – "Expansions" (1975)
  • 10. Irakere – "Añunga Ñunga" (1980) * Cut in re-releases
  • 11. Deodato – "Super Strut" (1973)
  • 12. Xavier Cugat – "Jamay" (1955)
  • 13. Benny Moré – "Maracaibo Oriental" (1958)
  • 14. Tito Puente – "Mambo Gozón" (1958)

8. Talk Radio: K-Chat & VCPR

Hosts: Amy Sheckenhausen & Maurice Chavez Satirical Talk & Public Debates

K-Chat: Superficial celebrity gossip hosted by Amy Sheckenhausen. Features interviews with Jezz Torrent (Love Fist frontman), feminist author Michaela Carapadis, animal lover Pat "Mr. Zoo" Flannerdy, spiritualist Gethsemanee, ex-footballer BJ Smith, eccentric French actor Claude Maginot, and Thor (a self-proclaimed Norse warrior god).

VCPR (Vice City Public Radio): Maurice Chavez hosts Pressing Issues, moderated between desperate donation appeals from Jonathan Freeloader and Michelle Montanius. Segments include Morality (Pastor Richards, Jan Brown, Barry Stark), Perception & Positive Thinking (Konstantinos Smith, Jeremy Robard, Jenny Louise Crab), and Public Safety (Alex Shrub, Callum Crayshaw, John F. Hickory).

Custom Radio: PC players could place .mp3 and .ogg tracks in the mp3/ folder. Xbox players used dashboard CD ripping ("Tape"), and iOS players created an in-system playlist named "VICECITY" to trigger the "Tape Deck" radio station.

Vice City Cutscene Exclusives, Commercials & Lore Trivia

  • Cutscene Exclusive Tracks: Modern English's "I Melt with You" (Back Alley Brawl); Los Super Seven's "Compay Gato" and "Campesino"; Al Di Meola's "Ritmo De La Noche"; Big Country's "In a Big Country" (original PS2 version of The Driver); Whodini's "The Freaks Come Out at Night" (The Job); and Blue Öyster Cult's "Burnin' for You" (Boomshine Saigon).
  • Commercial Satire: Iconic parodies of 80s excess, including Ammu-Nation ("protecting against communism"), Yuppie and the Alien (buddy-cop sitcom spoof), and Domestobot (a household robot replacing human domestic nannies).
  • Non-Selectable Station: Vice City News (VCN) was planned as a dedicated 24-hour news station during development. While the radio dial feature was cut, its downtown skyscraper headquarters and VCN Maverick helicopters appear throughout the map.
  • Soundtrack Trivia: 1983 was the most represented release year (21 tracks). The tracklist includes several intentional anachronisms, such as Cachao's 1994 track and Man Parrish's 1988 remix. Whodini's cutscene track was later turned into a full station (Fresh 105 FM) in Vice City Stories. In a 2021 Billboard interview, pop star The Weeknd credited driving through Vice City listening to Flash FM as a direct inspiration for his global hit "Blinding Lights".
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