Jacking the Dial: A Grand Theft Auto Radio Survey


Kiri Miller, Dept. of Music, Brown University


Please note: My initial research on this topic is complete (see the forthcoming articles on my CV). I am currently working more actively on Guitar Hero. The GTA survey was originally carried out while I was at the University of Alberta; the questions appear here so readers of my articles can refer to them.


This survey is part of a research project on the role of music in Grand Theft Auto. The project is currently focused on GTA San Andreas, but feel free to answer based on your experience with other versions. Your answers will be anonymous unless you choose to provide your email address and/or other personal information. I will not use any information you supply for any purposes beyond this research, nor will I share the list of respondents with anyone. You will see a confirmation of your responses upon submission of the survey. This research is in no way affiliated with Rockstar Games or its parent companies. Thank you for participating, and please encourage your GTA-playing friends to do the same!

  1. May I quote directly from your answers in my scholarly publications? If so, please note how you would prefer to be cited (provide your name and/or your geographic area, or "anonymous"). You have the right to withdraw this permission at any time by contacting me. If you would like to be kept informed of the progress of this research, please provide an email address.

  2. How old are you?

  3. Gender?
    male female
    intergender/trans/other

  4. Occupation?

  5. Would you be willing to answer follow-up questions about your response?
    Yes No
    • e-mail address? (skip this if you already provided it)

  6. What versions of GTA have you played, and on what platforms? Note which versions you own.


  7. How long would a typical playing session last?

  8. Are other people usually present when you play GTA?
    Yes No


  9. Do you usually play the game at home, or in some other setting?
    at home elsewhere


  10. Do you usually listen to the radio when driving in real life? What genres?


  11. How is listening to the radio in GTA different from listening to real-life radio, in terms of your attention to/reaction to the content and how frequently you change stations?


  12. How do you choose which stations to listen to as you play GTA? Do you have favorites? Are there any stations you have never listened to?


  13. Do you think music has any effect on how you relate to your character or other characters in the game?


  14. Has the GTA radio changed any of your listening/music-purchasing habits? Has it increased your interest in any particular artist or genre?


  15. Does GTA's music accurately represent the game's time/place setting? Did you listen to any of this music when it was new?


  16. How is the GTA radio different from the musical soundtracks of other games, in terms of your experience as a player? Is music usually an important part of your gaming experience?


  17. In general, what does the radio contribute to your GTA experience? Please feel free to use this space for any further comments.

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