• by November 28, 2006

It's no secret that hit TV shows can break bands or raise already popular bands to cult status.

The O.C. on Fox is one of the most aggressive examples of the trend, having featured music by indie bands Death Cab for Cutie, the Killers, the Shins, the Thrills, Modest Mouse, and the Walkmen. Death Cab, for one, scored handily from the association, selling nearly 200,000 copies of its 2003 release Transatlanticism and securing a record deal with Atlantic. Pop rock band Rooney appeared live on the show and saw record sales triple. The CW's One Tree Hill delivered Jimmy Eat World and The Wreckers, and dreamy Gavin DeGraw broke out when his catchy "I Don't Want To Be" became the angst-filled show's title track.

Now Irish singer/songwriting sensation Damien Rice is having his own breakout: a single from his new album Nine played on the Nov. 23 episode of ABC's hit show Grey's Anatomy just a week after the album's Nov. 14 release date. Tracks on Grey's and other shows are chosen carefully in conjunction with producers and music supervisors to coincide with "a big moment," says Lori Feldman, senior vice president of TV Marketing, Warner Bros. Records, speaking on a panel during the CMJ Music Marathon last month. Securing the rights to songs is a time-consuming, labor-intensive process.

So next time you see Meredith struggling over McDreamy, or Dr. Addison Montgomery trying to resist McSteamy, or George fumbling (again) with Callie, listen to the music - it's often another character in the show.