Music Licensing
Ongoing coverage on Music Licensing.
Latest coverage
Legendary Singer Thought GTA 6 Is a TV Show Despite Being Part of Its Soundtrack
Legendary singer Cliff Richard was unaware that Grand Theft Auto VI is a video game, believing it to be a TV game show despite having one of his songs featured in its soundtrack and promotional material. The inclusion of his 1976 track "Devil Woman" in the GTA VI: An Extended Look presentation led to a significant surge in streams and Spotify listeners for the song. Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
GTA 6 Sparks Unlikely Cliff Richard Resurgence, but the 86-Year-Old Singer Still Doesn't Know What It Is
The upcoming game Grand Theft Auto 6 has caused an unexpected resurgence for 86-year-old singer Cliff Richard, whose song was featured in the game's extended trailer. Despite the song's inclusion and the game's popularity, Richard himself is reportedly unaware of the phenomenon.
"Having a hand in the game etches you in history": How Grand Theft Auto became a musical tastemaker
Rockstar Games has established itself as a significant musical tastemaker through the Grand Theft Auto franchise, influencing popular music trends and introducing new artists to a global audience. The trailers for Grand Theft Auto VI, featuring songs by Tom Petty and The Pointer Sisters, significantly boosted streams for these artists, demonstrating the franchise's cultural impact. While the games have been praised for their curated soundtracks, there have been controversies regarding music licensing fees offered to artists.
Travis Scott, Fred Again and more confirm GTA 6 soundtrack songs via new artwork
Several musicians, including Travis Scott and Fred Again, have confirmed their involvement in the Grand Theft Auto 6 soundtrack by sharing new artwork. This coordinated marketing push reveals a list of confirmed songs, adding to the anticipation for the game's release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in November 2026.
I'm excited for Stage Tour, but Rock Band 4 will take a lot to beat
Rock Band 4 remains the last active title from the plastic-instrument rhythm game era, a decade after its release. Despite challenges with peripheral availability and music licensing, the game continues to receive weekly track additions and maintain an active online community. While Fortnite Festival offers a new Harmonix experience, it does not fully replace the legacy or song library of Rock Band 4.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Extended Look’s Song Choices Revealed
The Grand Theft Auto 6 Extended Look trailer featured a diverse soundtrack including modern hip hop and classic rock artists like Def Leppard, alongside original synthesized scores for intense moments. The game is set to release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19th, continuing the franchise's tradition of acclaimed in-game music.
Spotify has roped the indie publisher Kobalt into its AI platform for covers and remixes
Spotify has partnered with the indie publisher Kobalt to integrate AI-powered creative tools into its platform. This forthcoming paid add-on will allow users to generate content, including covers and remixes, using AI.
GTA 6 theme song leaked by the artist
An English singer and producer, Trace Austin, has seemingly revealed that his rendition of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" will be a theme song for Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto VI. Information found on his professional profiles suggests a collaboration with Rockstar Games for the upcoming title, with his version of the song potentially featuring original vocals from The Temptations.
Reactional Music wins €2.5 million EIC grant to scale music as a new monetisation layer in gaming
Reactional Music, a platform focused on integrating programmable music into games, has secured a €2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council, with potential for up to €9 million in total funding. This investment will support the company's commercial expansion, including scaling music delivery, optimizing SDKs for game engines, and establishing music as a new monetization layer within the gaming economy.
GameMill's Snoopy Game Has Been Hit With A Copyright Lawsuit
Lee Mendelson Film Productions has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against GameMill Entertainment over the music in the Nintendo Switch game Snoopy & the Great Mystery Club. The lawsuit alleges that the game's soundtrack uses unlicensed music substantially similar to the original Vince Guaraldi compositions without authorization. The plaintiff is seeking damages estimated to exceed $300,000.
'What we’re building is grounded in consent, credit, and compensation for the artists and songwriters that take part': Planned Spotify AI tool can generate remixes and covers
Spotify is planning to launch a new AI tool that will allow users to create AI-generated covers and remixes of songs. This feature is being developed under a licensing agreement with Universal Music Group and is intended to provide new revenue streams for artists and songwriters. The tool will be a paid add-on for Spotify Premium users, with a focus on consent, credit, and compensation for participating artists.
Spotify and Universal are building an AI tool for covers and remixes
Spotify is developing a new paid AI tool in collaboration with Universal Music Group that will allow for the creation of AI-generated song covers and remixes. This initiative aims to explore new avenues for music creation and licensing within the evolving digital landscape.
Nej, Mixtape kommer inte att försvinna på grund av musiklicenser
Developer and publisher Annapurna Interactive has addressed concerns that the game Mixtape might be removed from sale due to expiring music licenses. They have secured perpetual licenses for all music used in the game, with the publisher stating that claims of time-limited licenses are false.
Mixtape Isn't Going Anywhere, Won't Be Delisted Over Music Licenses
Developers Beethoven & Dinosaur and publisher Annapurna Interactive have confirmed that the PlayStation 5 game Mixtape will not be delisted due to music licensing issues. Permanent licenses were secured for the soundtrack, which is integral to the game's narrative and experience. This ensures the game remains available for purchase despite the potential complexities of using licensed music.
No, Mixtape will not be delisted "due to music licenses expiring"
Annapurna Interactive has clarified that the game Mixtape will not be delisted due to expiring music licenses. Creative director Johnny Galvatron confirmed that the licenses were secured in perpetuity. The publisher explicitly stated that rumors of delisting were false.
After becoming one of the year's best-rated games, Mixtape devs say it won't ever be removed from sale due to expiring music licenses: "That was a lie"
Developers of the critically acclaimed adventure game Mixtape have stated that the game will not be removed from sale due to expiring music licenses, contrary to common industry practices. The team at Beethoven & Dinosaur, published by Annapurna Interactive, claims to have secured perpetual licenses for the game's soundtrack, ensuring its long-term availability.
Mixtape will be safe from a music licensing related delisting, ensured by its developer paying extra for the privilege
Developer Beethoven & Dinosaur has secured perpetual music licenses for their game Mixtape, ensuring it will not be delisted due to licensing issues. Publisher Annapurna Interactive confirmed that claims of potential delisting were false. Creative director Johnny Galvatron and producer Woody Woodward discussed the licensing process, noting they obtained most of the music they requested, including tracks from The Smashing Pumpkins.
Mixtape Publisher Refutes Claim That Expired Music Licenses Will Cause the Game to Be Delisted
Annapurna Interactive and developer Beethoven and Dinosaur have addressed concerns regarding music licensing in the game Mixtape. They have assured fans that expired music licenses will not lead to the game being delisted.
Claims that Mixtape will be delisted over music licenses are 'a lie,' says publisher
Claims that the narrative adventure game Mixtape will be delisted due to music licenses are false, according to publisher Annapurna Interactive and creative director Johnny Galvatron. Developer Beethoven and Dinosaur paid extra to secure perpetual licenses for the game's soundtrack, which features over two dozen licensed songs. This addresses concerns that the game might be removed from digital storefronts, a fate that has befallen other titles with licensed content.
Best AI Tools for Gaming Content Creators in 2026
This guide explores essential AI tools for gaming content creators in 2026, focusing on workflow acceleration rather than creative replacement. It covers AI clip detection, thumbnail generation, A/B testing, video editing, music licensing, and moderation, recommending specific tools like Eklipse, Epidemic Sound, and Canva based on creator needs and budget.
