On September 1rst, the CW's ultimate "guilty pleasure" show Gossip Girl premiered a new season and over 3 million people tuned in to watch spoiled high school kids in New York City create teen-drama like woah. The editors threw an acoustic version of the pop-punk outfit, Motion City Soundtrack's song "Fell in Love Without You" behind the first ten minutes and for 30 seconds over the credits.

After the show, online sales for the b-side track jumped 999%, shot it to the #14 spot on iTunes Alternative Chart, and has continued to see close to 2,000 downloads each week. It even spurred the band to take a day off from their tour to film a video for it.

After Tom Petty played at last year's Super Bowl Halftime show, the album's "Greatest Hits" skyrocketed 196% with over 33,000 sales. "Free Fallin'" was purchased 63,000 times over the Internet the week after the show. The OC introduced countless acts such as Death Cab for Cutie and Modest Mouse to mainstream audiences and a track on Grey's Anatomy all but guarantees a fluctuation into the green on a new record.

But what is the deal with the TV show soundtrack phenomenon?

A lot of this can be attributed to the rise in digital music sales as a catalyst in the sales associated with being featured on a hit show. Some market specialists have estimated that digital sales will account for 40% of total music sales by 2012 (1). A lot can also be attributed to the plug made famous on the WB back when Dawson's Creek was the hot new thing.

Music is such a part of our culture, a certain song can stir up memories like none other. I know for me, "No Diggity" will always sum up Jr. High prepubescent get-togethers and Chingy's "Holidae Inn" will forever remain proof of a night I got uber-hammered and my friend created a full on choreographic masterpiece to it. So when you see a show and like it, you'll attribute the song to the action. Who can honestly listen to the Counting Crow's "Colorblind" and not think of losing your virginity after Cruel Intentions?

With college students under fire for illegal downloads by the RIAA, I think it is interesting that this group is being punished for stealing a couple tracks when they are in fact the largest buying demographic as well. Sure record sales have dropped, but online sales have skyrocketed to make up for it. And TV shows are only helping the cause.

So next time you watch Gossip Girl or some other primetime hit, I dare you to not listen to the soundtrack and hear the digital cash registers going off. Just ask Motion City Soundtrack.
 

Here is a link to the track "Fell in Love Without You"