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Post-production is often described as the invisible art. It is the stage where stories find their rhythm, emotion and identity. Editing, sound design, colour grading and music all work together to shape the audience's experience, often in ways they never consciously notice.

Music, in particular, has an extraordinary ability to influence how we interpret a scene. It can create tension, reveal vulnerability, celebrate triumph or completely change the emotional direction of a narrative. Yet one question is not always asked often enough - who is creating that music, and whose experiences are being represented through it?

As conversations around representation continue across the film and television industries, the production music sector has an important role to play. If we want authentic storytelling on screen, we also need authentic voices behind the music that supports it.

For many years, production music has sometimes been viewed simply as a functional resource, a catalogue of tracks designed to solve editorial problems quickly and efficiently. While speed and accessibility remain essential, there is an increasing recognition that quality and authenticity come from diversity of experience. Music created by composers from different backgrounds, cultures and communities brings perspectives that cannot be manufactured or replicated.

This is particularly relevant for editors and post-production professionals, who are often working under intense deadlines. They need music that not only fits the cut but also feels genuine, emotionally truthful and culturally credible. Authenticity is no longer a desirable extra. It is an expectation.

Achieving this requires more than simply opening the door to underrepresented artists. It means creating sustainable pathways into an industry that has traditionally been difficult to access. Education, mentorship and meaningful partnerships are essential if we are to broaden the range of creative voices contributing to production music.

Collaboration between industry and academia has become an increasingly important part of that process. Working alongside institutions such as Leeds Conservatoire through the Quarry Music initiative has helped create opportunities for emerging composers to develop practical skills while gaining an understanding of the commercial realities of music for screen. Equally, projects with organisations such as Truro College have introduced younger creatives to a sector they may never have previously considered.

Alongside these partnerships, apprenticeship schemes, writing camps and professional development workshops have provided aspiring composers, producers and songwriters with direct access to industry knowledge. These initiatives are not simply about talent identification. They are about building confidence, breaking down barriers and creating networks that allow new voices to flourish.

This approach also reflects a broader commitment to evidence-led inclusion. Across the creative industries, there is growing recognition that good intentions alone are not enough. Measuring progress matters. Diversity reporting and ongoing evaluation help organisations understand where opportunities exist, where barriers remain and how meaningful change can be achieved over the long term.

The benefits extend beyond the composers themselves. A more representative creative community produces richer catalogues of music. Editors have access to a broader range of authentic sounds and perspectives. Producers can make creative choices that better reflect the stories they are telling. Audiences, in turn, experience work that feels more honest and more connected to the world around them.

Perhaps most importantly, these conversations demonstrate that production music should not exist separately from the wider post-production community. Editors, music supervisors, composers, academics and industry leaders all have a shared interest in developing a healthier and more inclusive creative ecosystem.

Conferences such as Assemble provide an invaluable opportunity to bring those groups together. By encouraging dialogue between practitioners and researchers, they create space to examine not only how post-production is evolving technologically, but also how it can evolve culturally.

The future of production music is not simply about bigger catalogues or faster search tools. It is about ensuring that the people creating the music are as varied and dynamic as the stories being told on screen.

Because when authentic voices create authentic music, everyone benefits: the composer, the editor, the producer and, ultimately, the audience.

Written by William Saunders. Creative Director of MediaTracks Music, an independent production music catalogue trusted by broadcasters for 30+ years.

Why authentic voices matter in Production Music

MediaTracks, British Film Editors and Guild of Music Supervisors presents…

Lights, Camera, Action on Trans Visibility. Supporting Trans+ careers in the music and screen industries

Joshua ‘Satch’ Satchell (he/him) - Songwriting expert and industry changemaker

Col Goudie (they/them) – Award winning non-binary trans feminine film editor and diversity advocate

Dylan Holloway (he/him) – BBC award-winning indie-folk singer-songwriter and producer

ILĀ (they/them) – Boundary-pushing trans artist and producer

Belle Antoinette (she/they) – Genre-defying pop provocateur and producer

Lexa (she/her) – Queer indie-rock singer-songwriter and advocate

Geo Jordan (he/him) – Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer

Pride in Sync 2026

The UK Government’s recent Copyright and AI Impact Assessment has confirmed what many of us in the production music industry have already sensed: we are entering a period of structural change, where the value of music is no longer defined solely by usage, but increasingly by its role as data.

One of the most striking realities is that AI development has not waited for policy to catch up. AI models are already being trained on vast amounts of content, including copyrighted works. The debate is no longer about whether this is happening, but how it is governed, and crucially, how rights holders are compensated.

At present, licensing activity is emerging, but unevenly distributed. Deals are largely being struck between major rightsholders and major AI developers, often focused on high-value or restricted datasets. Independent catalogues, which make up a significant portion of the production music sector, are at risk of being marginalised unless the market evolves.

The government’s report highlights three core challenges:

Lack of transparency around what data is used to train AI models

Limited control for rights holders over how their content is accessed

Fragmented or inconsistent metadata and ownership frameworks

For production music, this is particularly significant. Our industry has always relied on structured metadata, clear rights ownership, and efficient licensing. In many ways, we are better placed than other sectors to respond, but only if we adapt quickly. Metadata is no longer just a discovery tool, it is becoming the infrastructure through which value is tracked, attributed, and ultimately monetised.

The government has outlined four potential approaches, ranging from strict licensing requirements to broad exceptions allowing AI training without permission. While no decision has been made, the most likely outcome is a hybrid model where AI systems may be able to use content unless rights are actively reserved, combined with increased transparency requirements.

This shift challenges a fundamental assumption in our industry. Traditionally, value has been realised at the point of sync. But AI introduces a parallel chain, where music is not only consumed, but analysed, learned from, and embedded into systems and this creates new questions. How do we license music for training, not just usage? How do we ensure attribution and remuneration at scale? How do we technically control access to our catalogues?

Production music libraries that can answer these questions will be well positioned for the next phase of the market. Whilst there is uncertainty, there is a clear opportunity. The production music sector is uniquely structured, with clearly defined rights ownership, established licensing frameworks and rich metadata.

, our recent work with Cyanite and Marmoset exploring AI transparency and contextual metadata reflects this direction. Understanding how music is described, discovered, and contextualised is no longer just about better search, it is about ensuring that value flows correctly in an AI-driven ecosystem.

The policy landscape is still evolving, but the direction is clear.Transparency will increase, licensing models will evolve and control mechanisms will become more important.

For production music, the question is not whether AI will impact the industry, but how proactively we respond. Those who invest now in metadata, rights clarity, and licensing infrastructure will not only protect their catalogues, but unlock entirely new revenue streams.

AI, Copyright and the Future of Production Music: A Turning Point for Our Industry

 were created to recognise the outstanding music, creativity, and impact delivered by our artist community across the year.

All awards are based on tracks released during 

, and reflect not just musical excellence, but editorial trust, sync success, and long-term catalogue value.

These awards also sit firmly within our ethos:

Supporting underrepresented voices and new talent

Building a catalogue defined by quality, not volume

Awarded for the most impactful, well-placed, or strategically significant sync placement of the year. This award recognises music that doesn’t just land in a production - it elevates it.


Recognising a new MediaTracks artist who made an immediate and meaningful impact across releases, briefs, or editorial adoption.


Celebrating projects where collaboration enhanced both creative outcome and editorial usefulness - a core part of how we build music at MediaTracks.

For music that grows in value over time through discovery, repeat use, or strong editor advocacy - the kind of catalogue longevity we actively champion.


Awarded for excellence in arrangement, performance, and instrumental decision-making in service of picture and narrative.


For music that establishes tone, intent, and emotional direction immediately - working from the first frame in edit.


Recognising music that delivers clear emotional payoff and meaningfully enhances storytelling on screen.


For a body of work with a distinctive, confident sonic fingerprint - ownable, recognisable, and aligned with modern briefs.


Awarded to music that consistently performs in real-world edits - flexible, adaptable, and trusted by editors.


Recognising musicality, authenticity, and strong editor feedback across a complete album body of work.


Awarded for standout creative contribution across the catalogue - combining musical quality, reliability, and clear editorial value.

The MediaTracks Album Awards are about more than recognition. They reflect how we measure success as a company and community.

We believe production music succeeds when it:

The success of 2025 sets the benchmark for the years ahead. As we continue expanding our catalogue, supporting new voices, and building deeper relationships with editors and productions worldwide, these awards will become an important annual moment to celebrate the people and music driving MediaTracks forward.

MediaTracks Music Awards 2026

This latest release is an intimate male singer-songwriter album that explores love, loss, and personal growth with honesty and emotional depth. Rich in reflection and storytelling, the album is ideally suited to dating shows, underscoring post-date debriefs, villa confessionals, late-night self-reflection, emotional fallouts, and the quiet moments where contestants reassess connections and intentions.

Reaching album 500 feels especially significant given how much has changed over the past four years. Since MediaTracks changed ownership, the company has been on an extraordinary journey - creatively, strategically, and culturally. We have expanded our vision, invested in new voices, and built exciting momentum across both the business and the music itself, with much more still to come.

This milestone belongs not just to us, but to the incredible community of writers and artists we represent. Their talent, trust, and creativity are at the heart of everything we do. Album 500 is a celebration of that collective achievement - and a confident step into the next chapter of MediaTracks.

MediaTracks Reaches Album 500: A Milestone Worth Marking!

What Lies Ahead in 2026 for Production Music and Sync

Industry direction, creative demand, and what MediaTracks is building for the year ahead

As production music and sync moves into 2026, it does so at a moment of meaningful change, creating fresh opportunities across commissioning, creativity and licensing.

For MediaTracks, 2026 is not about speculative trends. It is about translating industry-wide change into practical standards: how music is written, discovered, licensed, and trusted in production environments.

This outlook builds on wider industry thinking - including Synchtank’s recent What Lies Ahead in 2026 analysis - and focuses on what these changes actually mean for production music and sync in day-to-day practice.

The big shift: confidence matters more than ever

In 2026, it’s not just about having great music – this is now a given. It’s about being able to use that music with confidence.

People using music increasingly need to know:

Metadata already plays a central role in how music is found and used. What’s now being added is provenance - clear information about authorship, rights and, where relevant, AI involvement.

This isn’t about slowing things down. It’s about making decisions faster, with fewer questions and less risk.

What commissioners and editors are actually asking for

Despite all the technology changes around us, the creative brief for sync is becoming clearer, not more complicated.


Tracks that work best are written with editors in mind: strong openings, clear changes, natural edit points and clean endings.


Organic instruments paired with light sound design continue to dominate, especially where dialogue needs space.


As AI-generated content becomes more common, there’s increasing demand for music that sounds played, purposeful and emotionally real.


Editors are increasingly drawn to music that reflects real places, cultures and identities, rather than generic styles.

These predictions reflect what we see already happening - and where things are clearly heading.

1. Metadata already drives discovery - AI provenance will simply become part of it.


Search and placement are already metadata-led. Clear information about AI involvement will sit alongside genre, mood and usage as standard.

2. AI transparency will become expected, not exceptional.


Clear statements about how music was created will increasingly be part of delivery and licensing conversations.

3. Human-feeling music will stand out more.


Live elements and natural performance will carry increasing value in a crowded content landscape.

4. Hybrid underscore will remain the default sound.


It does the job well - emotional, modern and dialogue-friendly.

5. Cultural identity will matter more, not less.


Authenticity and lived experience will increasingly influence decisions.

6. Music that clears quickly will win more work.


Confidence and speed will affect both placement and pricing.

7. How music is sourced will matter to buyers.


Fairness, transparency and creator treatment will increasingly factor into decisions.

8. Clear label identities will cut through better than large, unfocused catalogues.


Purpose and clarity will beat scale alone.

Much of this outlook closely aligns with the themes highlighted recently in Synchtank’s 

 report - particularly around AI, transparency and the growing complexity of the music and media landscape.

Where Synchtank looks at the industry as a whole, MediaTracks focuses on how those same changes show up in everyday production music and sync workflows.

Synchtank asks where the industry is heading.
MediaTracks focuses on what that means in practice - when music is being chosen, cut and cleared under real-world pressure.

The perspectives are complementary: one sets the direction, the other deals with execution.

This outlook isn’t theoretical. It directly shapes how we work at MediaTracks.

 report, our focus is on being clear and upfront about how music is made. Editors and producers get the information they need to use music with confidence, without slowing down the creative process.


Our writing camps are built around real briefs from real productions. We focus on creating high-quality, distinctive music that sounds authentic, feels human, and is delivered in a way editors can use immediately - with proper alternates, stems and clean, workable edits.


We work with partners who help open doors, bring new and underrepresented voices into the industry, and make sure opportunities in sync are fair, transparent and accessible.


Our label strategy is about clarity and identity - focused catalogues, strong editorial direction, and culturally specific music that feels rooted, credible and purposeful.

Looking ahead - MediaTracks in 2026: clarity, confidence and music that works.

 to understand how they feel about AI-generated music and what information they need to make confident choices.

97% want to know whether a track is human-made or AI-generated

. Nearly half say they will only work with human-made music, while others are open to AI, but only if it’s clearly labelled. Transparency isn’t a “nice to have” anymore; it’s the baseline.

What surprised us most was that the conversation didn’t stop at AI. 

Over half of respondents want richer context about the music itself:

 who created it, where it comes from, and why it was made. Cultural background, creative intent, and production details are increasingly shaping how music is selected, trusted, and licensed.

AI disclosure is expected, but context is what gives human creativity its value.


The state of AI transparency in music: what the industry really thinks

Build your network. Learn from professionals. Create music that gets heard.

A three-day intensive bootcamp for aspiring composers, songwriters, producers and artists looking to break into the world of production music.

, this hands-on experience offers practical industry insight, professional mentoring and the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded creatives.

INDUSTRY INSIGHT & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

What music editors and producers are looking for

How MediaTracks supports and develops writers

Delivering professional results efficiently

Work in creative teams alongside professional producers to create music for TV, film and media.

✓ Networking with writers and producers

🎬 Anyone interested in writing music for media

Ensuring a high-quality and collaborative experience.

TYX Members & Friends receive a 20% discount
£100 deposit required

Selected tracks may be considered for commercial release or inclusion within the MediaTracks catalogue.

Learn from professionals. Write with purpose. Build your future in music for media.

To register your interest, please click here - 

https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/14USSTEBGSEW00Cwtww8KDwfnl24

Production Music Bootcamp

 album is a celebration of resilience, determination and the transformative power of music. Created in partnership with the respected disability charities 

, the project brings together an inspiring collection of original compositions from four exceptional artists and bands, each offering a unique creative voice and perspective.

More than just an album, this is a showcase of talent that challenges perceptions and demonstrates that great music knows no barriers. Every track reflects the individuality, passion and artistry of its creators, capturing stories of perseverance, ambition and achievement through sound.

The album has been crafted with a wide range of media in mind and offers authentic, uplifting and emotionally engaging music suitable for television, film, advertising, documentaries and digital content. By licensing this collection, productions not only gain access to outstanding music but also support a project that champions greater inclusion and representation within the creative industries.

Paralympics

For licensing enquiries please email us at hello@mediatracks.co.uk

Classical music is often seen as a symbol of high-culture and sophistication, but for those outside of its inner circle it remains a mysterious, complicated and exclusive world. With the launch of MT Classics, a label by MediaTracks in collaboration with CRD Records and Pitch Perfect music consultancy, Classical music is undergoing a transformation. Our aim is to make the genre more accessible and less intimidating for creatives across visual media.

Classical repertoire available now as 90-second tracks, along with cutdowns and stings

Meticulous grouping of the tracks by moods, rather than by composer name.

Replacing the original catalogue names e.g ‘Opus 27, No.2’ (Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata) or ‘BWV 992’ (Bach’s compositions) with descriptive titles such as ‘Symphonic Glory’ or ‘Mother’s Loss’

This label demystifies Classical masterpieces, making them essential tools for enhancing your visual storytelling on TV, film, podcasts, socials and more.

Making Classical Music More Accessible for Visual Storytelling

MT Classics: Demystifying Classical Music

MT Minnies is dedicated to providing a seamless and convenient experience for children's TV and film production companies. The label will not only showcase new albums tailored specifically for young audiences but will also feature a selection of previously published albums that align with the MT Minnies brand.

With the launch of MT Minnies, MediaTracks continues to support and promote their existing album labels (MT Heritage, MT World, MT Records, MT Vocal and MT Electronic). Albums will continue to be released under these five main labels (depending on their genre) but will also have the possibility to be included in the MT Minnies category as well. This strategic decision ensures that MediaTracks' diverse range of music reaches a wider audience, catering to diverse musical audiences within the world of children's entertainment.

Clients can effortlessly discover MT Minnies albums through MediaTracks' user-friendly platform and advanced search engine by filtering albums labelled as MT Minnies (these albums will also include the MT Minnies sticker on their cover). The MT Minnies collection is also available on MediaTracks' DISCO library, offering a comprehensive resource for high-quality children's music to music supervisors and editors.

In addition to the upcoming albums, MediaTracks is excited to include a selection of previously released albums in this category. These albums have been chosen for their ability to resonate with children and will be a valuable addition to the label's collection. 

Stay updated on the latest releases and developments in the world of MT Minnies by subscribing to MediaTracks' monthly newsletters. Subscribers will receive exclusive insights into the creative process behind MT Minnies albums, along with composer spotlights and new release announcements.

For further information, enquiries, or to explore licensing opportunities,  contact María Cecilia Ayalde Ángel at 

Introducing MT Minnies

MT Customer Commitments

MediaTracks is a family-run independent production label, supplying authentic & innovative music to TV, film & advertising for 25 years. Get in touch today!