Radio Stations

Lore & Background

In Mafia II, the radio stations are more than just background noise—they're a window into the cultural and political soul of the 1940s and 1950s. Empire Central Radio spins period-correct hits from artists like Buddy Holly & The Crickets, The Everly Brothers, and Muddy Waters, while Empire Classic Radio offers big band and jazz standards. Delta Radio rounds out the lineup with rhythm and blues and doo-wop. The stations also feature fictional news reports and commercials that sell the era's hustle, from car ads to cigarette jingles. Depending on the weather during the game, vehicles handle differently—for example, in winter chapters, cars slip on ice—but the radio keeps playing, grounding every drive in the time period. The game's cutscenes are created in real-time by the engine, so if you're listening to a station when a cutscene starts, the same music may carry over, though pre-rendered clips (like the opening sequence and a cutscene in chapter ten) are exceptions.

In Their Own Story

The radio stations in Mafia II don't directly react to player actions like in later games, but they do provide atmospheric storytelling that enriches the world. As Vito Scaletta navigates Empire Bay from 1945 to 1951, the music and news broadcasts reflect the changing times—from post-war optimism in the mid-1940s to the early 1950s rock and roll boom. The stations include licensed songs by Chuck Berry, The Everly Brothers, Dean Martin, Little Richard, Muddy Waters, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Bing Crosby, Bill Haley & His Comets, The Chordettes, Ritchie Valens, Bo Diddley, Ricky Nelson, Eddie Cochran, The Champs, The Drifters, The Fleetwoods, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Nat King Cole, The Chords, and The Andrews Sisters. While the story focuses on Vito's rise and fall within the Mafia, the radio serves as a constant reminder of the world outside the crime families—a world of changing music, news, and culture that Vito is slowly losing touch with.

Reader's Guide

To access radio stations in Mafia II, simply get into any drivable vehicle and use the in-car radio controls. There are three stations to choose from: Empire Central Radio (pop and rock), Empire Classic Radio (big band and classical), and Delta Radio (rhythm and blues and doo-wop). Switch between them using the D-pad or assigned keys on your platform. The game features 50 era-accurate vehicles, and each one has a radio that plays the same stations. The radio is purely atmospheric—it won't affect gameplay or help you in firefights—but it's essential for immersion. Listen for news reports and commercials that flesh out the world of Empire Bay. Note that the radio is only available in vehicles; you cannot listen to it on foot. The music is licensed, so you'll hear real hits from the 1940s and 1950s, making every drive a mini-history lesson.

Did You Know?

• Mafia II features three radio stations: Empire Central Radio, Empire Classic Radio, and Delta Radio.
• The radio stations play licensed music from artists like Chuck Berry, Dean Martin, Little Richard, and The Andrews Sisters.
• The game's cutscenes are created in real-time by the engine, so if you're listening to a station when a cutscene starts, the same music may carry over—except for pre-rendered clips like the opening sequence and a cutscene in chapter ten.
• There are 50 era-accurate vehicles in the game, each with a radio that plays the same stations.
• Depending on the weather during the course of the game, vehicles handle differently—for example, in winter chapters, cars slip on ice—but the radio keeps playing regardless.