GTAIV's dial-a-song digital music feature partners with Amazon.com

Grand Theft Auto III made great use of popular music, but you had to buy CDs to get the soundtrack for yourself. This time around, Amazon and Rockstar Games have worked out a deal where gamers have easy access any song they hear in Grand Theft Auto IV.

This really nifty idea for digital music distribution uses the game's cell phone feature. Ars Technica says that players can dial a number on the in-game cell phone at any time they hear something they like from the game's soundtrack. They will then receive a text message giving the song's title and artist information. Those signed up for Rockstar's Games Social Club will receive an email with a link to an Amazon.com custom playlist with their song selections, and these can be purchase, DRM-free, for $0.89 or $0.99.

"Music has long played an integral part of the game playing experience," said Ronn Werre, EVP, EMI Music's Sales, Licensing and Synchronization unit. "We think giving players the ability to identify and buy their favorite tracks from Grand Theft Auto IV's popular radio stations is a great new music discovery tool for fans and an innovative new revenue stream for artists."

This feature to access the over 150 tracks of GTAIV, including "War is Necessary" by NAS, will be available to US gamers only.

Do you see yourself taking a break from gunfire to buy a song in-game?