We all have heard our share of similar artists throughout top 40 radio and the rotation is monotonous. In the last decade or so the teenage demographics have been steadily growing and the producers and directors of popular shows like Grey’s Anatomy and One Tree Hill have realized that one-thing teenagers love as much as television is music.
Music in television happens to go hand in hand and moves a story a long. Over the year music in television, especially drama’s have become a character in itself. So it was only a matter of time before people started to pick up on the lesser-known artists that were being featured as a constant fixture to a particular show.
Snow Patrol on Grey's Anatomy
Grey’s Anatomy, ABC’s highest rated show is no stranger to illuminating a scene through music. One song that was made big by Grey’s Anatomy was featured in the last scene of the 2006 season finale, and this song was Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol.
This song was promoted all through the last two weeks of the season’s airing and throughout the summer as an important arch in the death of an intern’s fiancé. Because of the outlet via television the band has had fan worthy acclaim and soared in the digital music charts to become the most-downloaded song in the U.S. itunes store just one day after the DVD release of the second season of Grey's Anatomy.
Imogen Heap on The OC
Another pivotal television moment was captured through a unique vocoder / a capella sound done by Imogen Heap with Hide and Seek. This song was featured in the second season finale of The OC. A death scene played out to the unnerving sound of the track gave everyone something to talk about the next day.
Since the song’s television premiere it has also been featured on CSI Miami and a short-lived series entitled Smith. Since it’s appearance on The OC, Imogen Heap had went on to receive a 2007 Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and the song peaked at number eight during 2005 in the top 100 itunes songs.
Chris Cornell Makes Comeback
Lead singer of Alternative success’ Audioslave and Sound Garden, Chris Cornell made his first solo attempt in 1998 with his album Euphoria. While it received critical acclaim, it didn’t turn in the numbers that the recording industry applauds. Now with newly beats by Timbaland, Cornell has reached success with single, Scream. This song ran out of the gate by being featured on One Tree Hill and gained a new audience who previously wouldn’t know Sound Garden from Savage Garden.
Music is the new television, and television is the new place to hear new and innovative songs that wouldn’t regularly earn rotation through clear channel. Is this a new source of promotion? It looks like it! So flip the switch before you turn the dial, and you might be pleasantly surprised at the difference in the creativity and power the music really has over a simple television show.
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