Summary
- Grand Theft Auto 5 has a wide variety of radio stations with different genres of music, including techno, house, chillwave, funk, reggae, indie, hip-hop, punk rock, R&B, classic rock, soul, West Coast hip-hop, electronic, and more.
- Most of the radio stations in GTA 5 are hosted by real-life personalities, adding authenticity and charm to the game.
- Each radio station in GTA 5 has a unique vibe and playlist, catering to different music preferences. Players can enjoy a curated selection of songs while exploring the game's open world, adding to the immersive experience.
Even a decade after its release, Grand Theft Auto 5 is still one of the most popular games on the market. Its massive open world, freedom of choice, and chaotic action keep fans coming back. But one other thing that the Grand Theft Auto series is greatly appreciated for is their choice of music on the soundtrack.
Since Grand Theft Auto 3, Rockstar has put a lot of effort into getting licensed songs to use for a huge selection of radio stations. Grand Theft Auto 5 continued this by adding sixteen unique radio stations with over 400 songs to choose from. Throughout the game's long life cycle, Rockstar has continued to update the music by adding multiple songs and even entirely new radio stations for players to listen to as they explore the city of Los Santos.
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Updated November 29, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the greatest open-world video games of all time, and remains relevant to this day. Players love the amazing attention to detail in this sandbox and how it immerses players in this massive world. Regardless of the character players control, they'll have a great time using their unique abilities and shooting down anyone foolish enough to stand in their way. A huge part of the gameplay loop in Grand Theft Auto 5 is driving. Players who want to make their journey as memorable as possible can check out the best radio stations in GTA 5 to enjoy some great tunes and hilarious dialogue from the radio hosts.
Special Mention: Self FM
- Host(s): Cliff Lane & Andee
Almost every Grand Theft Auto game allows players to add their songs to the game in a custom radio station that serves as a major source of comfort for players who want to listen to their playlist without any restrictions. While most people may not download music nowadays with streaming becoming all the rage, this doesn't mean that players can't make the effort to find the songs they love and add them to a curated playlist that they can never go wrong with.
It helps that Self FM feels naturally integrated into the game, meaning that players won't feel like they're pushing themselves to hear the music they want while breaking their immersion as they drive around the game world. Grand Theft Auto 5's Self FM is a station that not many people talk about, but players are always welcome to add their songs and personalize their playthrough of the game in this small yet meaningful manner.
21 Blaine County Radio
Public Talk Radio Station
- Host(s): Bobby June, Ron Jakowski, Duane Earl
The biggest reason players won't bother to listen to Blaine County Radio all that much is because this station boasts no tunes and can only be heard in a specific region of the map. However, players who happen to switch to this station while trying to find something new to listen to will love the funny hosts and the ridiculous things they say on the radio.
The station features religious rhetoric that crosses a line, and farming shows that veer completely off-topic and lead to some hilarious moments. Blaine County Radio can become an underrated favorite for fans who love the sheer amount of comedic writing jam-packed into one of the best radio stations in GTA 5.
20 Soulwax FM
Techno And House
- Host(s): Soulwax
A lot of radio stations in Grand Theft Auto 5 are hosted by real-life personalities, and Soulwax FM is no exception. Hosted by a real-life group of Belgian DJs appropriately called Soulwax, the techno and house tunes on this station are a thing of beauty for fans of the genre.
It's one of the few FMs in GTA 5 not to be plagued by commercial breaks, which can be a boon for players who are tired of listening to the admittedly hilarious voiceovers in these advertisements over and over again. It may be far from the most notable radio station in GTA 5, but players looking for a fresh change of pace when it comes to the soundtrack accompanying their vehicular carnage will love what Soulwax FM has to offer.
19 WorldWide FM
Chillwave And Jazz-Funk
- Host(s): Gilles Peterson
WorldWide FM is a pretty interesting radio station that players can check out while driving in and around Los Santos. The fact that this station exists in real life is a testament to how serious GTA 5 is about nailing its radio stations, with the songs here being pretty decent in their own right.
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There's nothing inherently bad about WorldWide FM, but it can't be denied that the tracks in this station don't compare to some of the more high-profile ones in the game. That being said, players who don't mind listening to something energetic (if somewhat generic) will be more than pleased with what this station has to offer.
18 Los Santos Underground Radio
House And Techno
- Host(s): Donna Frank
A consequence of Grand Theft Auto 5 booming in popularity with the advent of its lauded Online component was that this game received regular updates that added a wealth of amazing content to the game, including new radio stations that added some variety to the game's music. Fans of techno and house music were glad to find out that another radio station was added to the game that catered to these genres of music.
Los Santos Underground Radio features some great tracks that players can enjoy as they explore the game world. Most of these tracks are pretty inoffensive, making them unremarkable to all but the most hardcore house and techno fans.
17 Space 103.2
Funk
- Host(s): Bootsy Collins
Players who want to get into the groove and enjoy some smooth tunes will have a blast listening to Space 103.2. Characters like Denise Clinton, Amanda De Santa, and Lester Crest prefer this station quite a bit, and understandably so. The music is pretty soothing and something many people can vibe to while exploring the world.
These old tunes can be pretty relaxing to listen to, but there are times when the vibe of this radio station doesn't match the chaotic gameplay that Grand Theft Auto players are used to. As a result, sticking to this radio station for too long is easier said than done.
16 The Blue Ark
Reggae, Dub, And Dancehall
- Host(s): Lee "Scratch" Perry
The reggae genre is highly underrated with the laidback beats present in this genre making it a perfect way to unwind after a period of stress. Given how encounters in Grand Theft Auto 5 can go completely out of hand, it's nice that players can always rely on this station to mellow things down a bit.
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That being said, there's no denying that reggae can become rather repetitive after a point, with the beats blending to form a musical experience that some players may find monotonous in a dynamic game like Grand Theft Auto 5. As a result, there's only so much of this genre and its ancillaries that players can handle before they switch over to a different station instead.
15 Radio Mirror Park
Indie
- Host(s): Twin Shadow
Though some people don’t care for the synthesizer and the musical genre it inspired, fans of synth pop will find a lot to enjoy about Radio Mirror Park. GTA 5’s synth pop station features an extensive playlist including Twin Shadow, Miami Horror, The Chain Gang of 1974, KAUF, and Cut Copy among many others.
The chill vibes of most of these tracks may not be the perfect match for a life of crime and violence, but since the game has much more to it than shootouts and heists, it’s nice to have something to tune into in the game’s more laidback moments.
14 The Lab
Hip-Hop
- Host(s): Doctor No and Chemical Bro
After the much-celebrated release of GTA 5 on the PS3 and Xbox 360, Rockstar decided to go all-out in the re-release of this title on the next generation of consoles and the PC. Not only did the studio add first-person mode to the game, but it also added to the wealth of radio stations players could already tune into in the base game.
One such addition is The Lab, which features a decent collection of hip-hop tracks that are pretty catchy to listen to. It adds to the sheer amount of music variety in the game and proves why GTA 5 deserves its time in the spotlight as one of the most immersive open worlds ever crafted.
13 Vinewood Boulevard Radio
Modern Rock
- Host(s): Nate Williams and Stephen Pope
Some people may feel that indie rock doesn't mesh well with the Grand Theft Auto series. It isn’t as logical a fit as rap, and given the deserts and mountains of San Andreas, even country might make more sense. Regardless, there’s nothing to stop players from living their indie rock crime life dreams thanks to Vinewood Boulevard Radio.
The station could benefit from more variety and a longer track list, but the bands and songs that are included here make the station worth a listen. Featured artists include Wavves, Ceremony, Bleached, The Soft Pack, and The Men.
12 East Los FM
Regional Mexican, Electronica, Hip-Hop, Rock And Ska
- Host(s): Don Cheto and Camilo Lara
GTA 5’s regional Mexican station features a fantastic and varied playlist including the likes of Mexican Institute of Sound, La Sonora Dinamita, Fandango, and Fiebre de Jack. There are few radio stations that feel like they fit the city better than East Los FM.
Whether one is carjacking, racing, holding up gas stations, running errands, roleplaying, taking down a boss, or just cruising around enjoying the game’s scenery, East Los FM is one of the best radio stations in GTA 5 to vibe to. Unfortunately, the track list isn’t longer, but that’s the only real knock against this station.