GTA 6 Trailer Sparks Massive Spotify Boost for Tom Petty

Earlier this week, the highly anticipated first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI was unleashed by Rockstar Games, igniting a frenzy on the internet. Despite the revelation that the game won’t hit screens until 2025, the trailer has already shattered records with over 100 million views. Adding to the buzz, the featured song, Tom Petty’s “Love Is a Long Road,” is making waves on Spotify.

Following a minor leak, Rockstar decided to release the GTA 6 trailer ahead of schedule on December 4, causing an internet explosion. The trailer not only showcased stunning NPCs but also set the stage for a game-changing experience in 2025. Concurrently, the accompanying soundtrack, “Love Is a Long Road,” has witnessed a staggering surge in Spotify streams, spiking by a remarkable 36,979% compared to the previous week. As of December 6, the song has amassed over 11 million plays on the streaming platform.

Originally part of Tom Petty’s 1989 album “Full Moon Fever,” alongside hits like “Free Fallin’,” “I Won’t Back Down,” and “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” “Love Is a Long Road” is experiencing a revival online courtesy of the GTA 6 trailer. Notably, this isn’t the first time the late Petty, who passed away in 2017, has contributed his music to a GTA game. In 2004, his track “Runnin’ Down A Dream” featured on the classic rock radio station K-DST in GTA San Andreas, and Petty was known to have enjoyed collaborating with Rockstar on the successful open-world sequel.

Speculating on what Petty might think today, especially considering his Florida roots, it’s safe to say he would likely relish the idea of his song being featured in the trailer for what appears to be the ultimate “Florida game.”