With the traditional music industry collapsing around us, like a building blown up by so many tons of C4, bands are being forced to do whatever they can to be heard. One of the techniques that has proven most successful for selling albums is getting a song on television—not music television, but commercial television, from advertisements to Grey’s Anatomy.

That a TV ad can do wonders for CD sales isn’t new—Moby’s 1999 album Play sold 10 million copies on the strength of various licensing deals; Nick Drake sold more records than he had in three decades when his song “Pink Moon” appeared in a 2000 Volkswagen commercial; little known band Hoobastank’s song "Crawling in the Dark" appeared in a 2000 Mountain Dew commercial (that also launched the career of Channing Tatum). In 2002 that song peaked at number seven on the mainstream rock charts; see, also, every song to ever appear in an iPod commercial. But in a time of plummeting CD sales, moving units, any amount of units, anyway you can, matters more than ever— and so more and more acts are getting into the TV game. (When musicians like M.I.A and Santogold are schilling for Honda Civic and Bud Light, you know all bets are off.)

Being showcased in a big television show can help a song as much as a car commercial. In 2006 Snow Patrol upped their profile stateside when "Chasing Cars" was used on Grey's Anatomy, boosting digital sales of the single and CD. The band eventually reworked the video, to feature Grey's clips, and re-released the album. The Fray had a similar experience after "How To Save A Life" was used to promote Grey's third season. A week after the promotional music video aired on ABC, the single shot from number 59 to 29 on the Billboard charts, later peaking at number 3. (The woman who selects songs for the doctor dramedy, Alexandra Patsavas, des the same for The O.C. and Gossip Girl. Essentially, she programs iPods all over the country.)

With this trend showing no signs of slowing down, we decided to recap some of the more recent TV-propelled radio breakthroughs.

“1901,” Phoenix Appeared in: The CW’s Gossip Girl and Melrose Place, Cadillac SRX commercial (below). Chart rank: Entered Billboard at #90, won the Best Alternative Music Album Grammy. Sounds like: Having fun, in summer. This single from the French outfit, beloved by everyone, critics included, is so damn good it hasn’t been ruined by being playing incessantly in that bar, mall, shopping center or ubiquitous Cadillac commercial.

“Sweet Disposition,” The Temper Trap Appeared in: ABC's The Deep End, The CW’s 90210, 500 Days of Summer, Chrysler's 2010 Vintage commercial, Rhapsody commercial, Peugeot commercial (all below). Chart rank: US Billboard #30/ UK #6. Sounds like: Falling in love, in summer. The lead single from this Australian group's debut album sounds a whole bunch like "1901," but a smidge more heartsick, which is why it figured into indie rom-com 500 Days of Summer. Carmakers obviously decided that it was a song that could make you fall in love with an automobile.

“Black & Gold,” Sam Sparro o Appeared in: UK's Skins. Chart rank: UK #2, Billboard Hot Dance Airplay #8. Sounds like: Seeing someone you want to sleep with across a crowded room, and then maybe having a dance off. The smooth crooner Sparro's "Black & Gold" was featured on the hit, risqué, British teen-show Skins propelling it up the UK and the Billboard Dance charts.

“Fly Me Away,” Annie Little Appeared in: 2009 Kindle commercial (below). Chart rank: Little was an unsigned act before the Kindle commercial: Going from a nobody to a somebody has to count as about 100 chart spots. Sounds like: Your twee librarian can play guitar. Little was an actress, who had appeared in over 40 commercials, before she entered a video contest to create an ad for Amazon’s Kindle, and won, with this strummy, lala track. Unsigned, she won't be for long.

"New Soul," Yael Naim Appeared inL Macbook Air commercial (below). Chart rank: #7 on Billboard hot 100. Sounds like: Your very pretty, artist neighbor can play guitar. This song hit big in 2008 after appearing in a ubiquitous Macbook Air ad. (Apple ads do for musicians' careers what Ed Sullivan used to.) We'll see if the Franco-Israeli's next album does as well without the Steve Jobs' stamp of approval.