GTA VI radio lineup features Bad Bunny and Lana Del Rey, plus on-demand podcasts

Six stations and their hosts

Rockstar Games published previews of six in-game radio stations for Grand Theft Auto VI on 8 October, all available to sample on its website. Cocoteo FM, a modern Latin music station, is hosted by Bad Bunny as El Martillo and by RaiNao as La Gata. Back Country Radio, which focuses on classic and outlaw country, is led by Lana Del Rey and Morgan Wallen as MW and Delta Dawne. Del Rey's husband, Jeremy Dufrene, takes a small role as Mud Dog Mike, a roving reporter, swamp meteorologist and airboat captain, a job he also holds in real life.

The other four stations are Flash FM, a pop station hosted by Robyn and Alex Consani; Dirty South Classics, covering regional rap and classic hip-hop with Trick Daddy and Trina; AfroBank FM, a station for African music hosted by Burna Boy and Palms Trax; and The Chamber 106.6, a heavy metal station run by Kerry King and Tom Araya of Slayer. The new game is set in Leonida, a fictional state inspired by Florida.

Del Rey on the franchise

Del Rey said that taking part in the game is especially meaningful to her because of her connection to the series. She recalled that when some of her family first travelled to Los Angeles, they already knew the roads because they had played earlier Grand Theft Auto games.

One of the coolest things about this is the fact that the first time some of our family got to LA they actually knew the roads because of playing the game.

Del Rey, a fan of the franchise for years, added that the role was a privilege and said she could not wait to start playing.

On so many different levels this is super special and a privilege.

RaiNao described her own role in a statement to Pitchfork, saying that Cocoteo draws on the slang, taste and traditions of her community.

It feels incredibly special to lend my voice to GTA VI and do it in the best way possible: having fun, embodying a character who's like me, and putting our culture, our music, and our people in the spotlight.

Podcasts and soundtrack

Rockstar also confirmed a feature that is new to the series, with "for the first time ever" GTA VI introducing on-demand podcasts that players can hear in vehicles or on foot. The Verge described the podcasts as fictional commentary on fictional events in the fictional state of Leonida.

The game will also have a soundtrack of 34 original tracks. Pitchfork reported that Rockstar revealed the details of that soundtrack in September. The full track list has not been published, but Travis Scott, Morgan Wallen, Rauw Alejandro, Yung Lean and Keith Richards have released songs linked to the project, and Pitchfork also names PinkPantheress among the artists.

Launch timing

GTA VI launches on 19 November, and according to The Verge it is available for preorder now. Rolling Stone reports that the soundtrack album arrives on the same day, 19 November.