For struggling musicians, the fast-track to superstardom is no longer steady rotation on a popular radio station or an opening-act slot on the next Coldplay tour. From Feist to Wolftrain to the Fratellis, Chairlift and even Coldplay themselves, the ubiquitous iPod silhouette ads have proven to be better than a Rolling Stone cover shot, increasing searches and sales, and often earning a prime spot in iTunes’ Top Songs list.

But what about those who aren’t so lucky? How are the other thousands of artists in the iTunes Store supposed to pique interest without the use of dancing shadows? Look no further than the App Store.

Much like Spotlight searches your entire hard drive for files and delivers them in a neat, itemized package, iTunes searches the entire Store when presented with a query, something that can be beneficial to unknown artists struggling to find a way to get a little exposure. Now, we’re not suggesting you go out and record a song called “Burning Monkey Puzzle Lab” just for a few cheap sales, but more than a few iTunes artists might be in for a few extra residual checks around the holidays:

Moto Chaser

A quick search for the most popular iPhone app--thanks in no small part to an iPod touch ad that wiggles its way into more than its fair share of commercial breaks--delivers three artists that should never appear in the same search (or sentence): Motorhead, the China Wife Motors and Doug Jackson. Picking up on both “Moto” from two of the band’s names and “Chaser” in Jackson’s debut album, “Storm Chaser,” the three would make for an unlikely iMix — perhaps Death Punk Jazz Metal?

Flick Bowling

While searching for “Flick Bowling” by itself finds little more than the popular 10-pin app, those looking for either “Flick” or “Bowling” reveals a motley crew of artists (but not Motley Crüe themselves, of course). Who knew there were so many Flicks and Bowlings out there: FLIC(K), FLICK, Flick, Flick Wilson, Vic Flick, Simeon Flick, Flicker, Bowling for Soup, Mike Bowling, Kelly Bowling, Let’s Go Bowling and Bowling Green Philharmonic, all vying for some iTunes App Store shrapnel. And with a bit of luck (and some lazy typing), they’ll get it.

Hidden Expedition: Everest

A mouthful to say and a handful to type, Hidden Expedition: Everest is the app most likely to be boiled down to its last name: a good thing for a cluster of artists with the good foresight to name their act after a not-yet-released app for not-yet-released gadget’s not-yet-released OS update. After all, why else would you name your band The Ascent of Everest or View From Everest?

CameraBag

Cathy Richardson Band hit the jackpot with this one — the only artists in the entire iTunes Store to have recorded a song named “CameraBag,” from her 2000 record, “Buzzzed.” That’s good, because actually searching for Cathy’s record is a little tricky, thanks to her use of an extra “z”--a real search buzz kill.

iChalky

Ditch the “i” (which is a little played out by now, anyway) and you’ll be surrounded by dozens of artists, songs and albums (and, for some reason, every available episode of the apparently chalk-inspired series, “Scrubs”). All that time in detention must have rubbed off on these future rock-star troublemakers, who have quite the obsession with the white writing utensil: Chalk, Chalk Circle, The Chalks, Chalk Farm, Ory Chalk, Black Drawing Chalks and Chalk Outline Party. Our personal favorite? C.H.A.L.K. (Craving Himself Another Lovely Kill), who might have a hard time winning over window shoppers with songs like “Breaking Into Your Mind” and “Ultraviolent Raise,” but definitely score some serious curiosity points.

Cro-Mag Rally

You’ll have to leave off “Rally” to get anywhere, but we’re not about to tell ‘80s New York City-based hardcore punk group Cro-Mags that. A cross between Pantera and a bloody hook, Cro-Mags easily win the least-likely-to-accidentally-find-while-searching-for-a-racing-game prize. But we’re not going to tell them that, either.

Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D

One of the longest apps in the store also has the least likelihood of making an artist accidentally rich. Any combination of any two of the words will lead directly to the popular iPhone app, but those who only type "Bandicoot" in the search field might be sidetracked by a few songs inspired by the marsupial. And while none of iTunes’ artists have been crazy enough to include “Bandicoot” as part of their band name, Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes’ debut album has the distinction of being the only named “Bandicoot” in the whole store. With a New Orleans-flavored sound and four five-star reviews, a little critter named Crash might be just what the doctor ordered.

Koi Pond

This one’s just uncanny. Great White Hunt, Electric Skychurch and Dan Neal have all actually recorded songs named “Koi Pond.” If that’s not worth your 99 cents, we don’t know what is.