Revolving around a group of privileged teens who inhabit Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the new CW Network series “Gossip Girl” is poised to become TV’s next important outlet for artists who want their music heard.
Based on Cecily von Ziegesar’s popular young-adult novel series of the same name, “Gossip Girl” arrives Sept. 19 by way of “The OC” creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. The show is a product of teen marketing agency Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Paramount Television.
Chop Shop Music owner Alexandra Patsavas, who was the music supervisor for “The OC” and currently does the same for “Grey’s Anatomy” and other shows, will apply her deft music skills.
As with “The OC” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” and other shows on the CW, music will feature heavily into the lives and plot lines of the main characters. For instance, promo spots for “Gossip Girl”-viewable on the CW and the Internet-feature Fergie’s “Glamorous” and Aqualung’s “Something to Believe In.”
Patsavas says these two acts are representative of the show’s music. “What ‘The OC’ did for indie rock, we’d like ‘Gossip Girl’ to do for pop,” she says. The pilot episode of “Gossip Girl” spotlights music by Rihanna, the Mooney Suzuki, Hanson, Amy Winehouse, Angels & Airwaves and others.
“I’m relying on old favorites while exploring current pop music,” Patsavas says. “And since the show revolves primarily around high school students in New York, we’ll definitely be using some New York-based bands. But these kids listen to the radio, too,” she adds. “So, there will be that music, too.”
In addition to licensed tracks, the show features the sounds of production team the Transcenders, who composed the show’s overall music, including the theme song.
