Lesser-known, but still-great music often doesn't get the exposure it deserves. FM radio sure as hell doesn't play it. MTV doesn't even play videos while normal people are awake. For better or worse, commercials and TV shows have stepped in to get real artists paid and exposed to the masses.



Goldfrapp is no stranger to promoting music via TV, movies and advertising. Case in point: high-profile placement in 'Marie Antoinette,' 'Sex & the City,' 'The Sopranos' and 'Desperate Housewives,' and spots for iTunes, Pepsi and Verizon. Keep reading to find out about more indie artists who've hit it big with commercial exposure.

Mute Records announced today that the lovely and talented Alison Goldfrapp will have her songs 'Fly Me Away' and 'Number One' featured in Target's upcoming holiday advertising campaign. The deal with the retail giant marks her largest licensing exposure to date.

Here's a list of more names you might recognize and their appearances in major ad campaigns.

Jose Gonzalez - 'Heart Beats' -- Sony Bravia


Grandaddy - 'Nature Anthem' -- Honda

Iron and Wine - 'Such Great Heights' -- M&Ms Kaleidoscope


Minotaur Shock -'Museli' -- American Express
Ben Lee - 'Catch My Disease' -- Dell
Goldfrapp - 'Strict Machine' -- Verizon
Zero 7 - 'In the Waiting Line' -- HBO Original Series Ad
Ratatat - 'Bustelo' -- Jaguar
Spoon - 'I Turn My Camera On' -- Jaguar
M83 - 'Don't Save us From the Flames' -- Pontiac
The Bravery - 'Unconditional' -- Saturn Sky
The Mooney Suzuki - 'Alive & Amplified' -- Suzuki Grand Vitara
Le Tigre - 'Hot Topic' -- Telus Musical Bunnies
Daft Punk -'Technologic' -- iPod
Gorillaz - 'Feel Good Inc.' -- iPod
Her Space Holiday - 'Japanese Gum' -- Avlimil
Fischerspooner -'Emerge' -- L'Oreal Paris
Kasabian - 'Club Foot' -- Pontiac
Razorlight - 'Golden Touch' -- Pontiac
Jurassic 5 - 'What's Golden' -- SBC/Yahoo
Franz Ferdinand - 'Take Me Out' -- Sony PSP
Kings of Leon - 'Molly's Chambers' -- Volkswagen Jetta
Blackalicious - 'Reanimation' -- Sunkist
Caesars - 'Jerk it Out' -- iPod Shuffle
Bent - 'Invisible Pedestrian' -- Absolut
My Morning Jacket - 'Mahgeetah' -- Aspen Edge Beer
Mooney Suzuki - 'Oh Sweet Susanna' -- Arrowhead Water
Air - 'Surfin' On a Rocket' -- Nissan Armada
Swayzak - 'Speakeasy' -- Motorola
Ratatat - 'Seventeen Years' -- Hummer H2
Mojave 3 - 'Bluebird of Happiness' -- Hummer Beach (H2)
Radio 4 - 'Dance to the Underground' -- Mitsubishi Shopping List (Galant)
Goldfrapp - 'Strict Machine' -- Nintendo
Modest Mouse - 'Gravity Rides Everything' -- Nissan Quest
Stereolab - 'Fiery Yellow' -- Volkswagen Phaeton
Beaulah - 'Good Man is Easy to Kill' -- Nissan
Ming+FS - 'Original Composition' -- Nissan
The Walkmen - 'We've Been Had' -- Saturn
The Polyphonic Spree - 'Light and Day' -- Volkswagen Pods Unite (iPod promotion)

Did I miss a good one? Post it!