Cymru on Screen: Bringing Welsh Music and Screen Together

Wales has never been more visible on screen. From major television productions and feature films to games, digital content and post-production, Welsh creative talent continues to make an impact both within the UK and internationally.

But a successful creative industry is about more than productions. It is also about the relationships between the editors, producers, composers, musicians, post-production teams and independent creatives who make them happen.

That was the thinking behind Cymru on Screen, held at Gloworks in Cardiff Bay on 24 September and co-hosted by MediaTracks Music, British Film Editors and Gorilla.

The event brought together people from across Wales' screen, post-production and music communities for an informal evening of conversation, live music and, most importantly, new connections.

Bringing the Industry Together

Cymru on Screen wasn't designed as a conference or a sales event.

It was about getting people into the same room.

As the Welsh screen sector has grown, so too has the network of production companies, post-production facilities, broadcasters, freelancers and other creative businesses supporting it. But people working in different parts of that industry don't always have the opportunity to meet face to face.

Cymru on Screen provided exactly that opportunity.

Throughout the evening, guests from across film, television, editing, post-production, music and the wider creative industries were able to meet, exchange ideas and discover more about each other's work.

Authentic Welsh Music

For MediaTracks, the evening also provided an opportunity to celebrate something that has become an increasingly important part of our catalogue: authentic Welsh music.

We believe that music representing Wales should come from the musicians, composers and artists who understand its culture, language and musical identity.

That's why we created MT Cymraeg, our dedicated home for the music and creative voices of Wales. The label champions Welsh composers and artists, bilingual creativity and music created specifically for use across television, film, documentary and other screen productions.

The catalogue is deliberately broad. Ymasiad Cymreig (Welsh Fusion) Volumes 1–3 explore contemporary Welsh music through folk, pop, electronic and cinematic influences, while Kids TV (Cymraeg a English) brings Welsh language and culture into music created specifically for children's programming.

Other releases demonstrate just how varied contemporary Welsh production music can be. Roc a Rêf combines rock and electronic energy, Little Truths (Cuddion) features atmospheric piano and synth music from Welsh artist Gwenno Morgan, while Celtic Pipes (Y Pibau Celtaidd) draws directly on traditional musical influences. Many of the MT Cymraeg albums have also been recorded in Wales.

Music is Part of the Story

Music might be one of the final elements added to a production, but it can completely transform how a scene feels.

Editors need music that works with picture. Producers need music they can license confidently. Composers and artists need to understand how their music will actually be used.

Bringing those people together matters.

MediaTracks has spent 30 years connecting music with picture, and events such as Cymru on Screen allow us to build those relationships at a regional level too.

They also give us the opportunity to listen. Understanding what editors, producers and post-production teams are looking for helps us make better production music and gives the composers and artists we work with a clearer understanding of what the screen industry actually needs.

Celebrating Welsh Creativity

The evening wasn't just about talking.

Live music formed part of the event too, helping to celebrate the musicians and creative voices that sit alongside Wales' thriving screen sector.

For MediaTracks, that combination of music, screen and conversation was particularly important. We are proud to work directly with Welsh composers, artists and musicians, and Cymru on Screen gave us an opportunity to celebrate those relationships while making new ones across the industry.

What Comes Next?

Cymru on Screen demonstrated the value of creating more opportunities for Wales' creative communities to meet.

An editor might discover a new composer. A producer might meet a new post-production partner. A musician might gain a better understanding of how music is selected for television. A conversation over a drink might eventually become a new production, commission or collaboration.

Those connections strengthen the whole creative ecosystem.

As an independent production music company, we see our role as extending beyond simply supplying and licensing tracks. We want to champion emerging talent, support education, encourage collaboration and create opportunities for the musicians and composers we work with.

Thank you to British Film Editors, Gorilla and everyone who joined us at Gloworks and helped make Cymru on Screen such an enjoyable evening.

We're proud to be part of Wales' creative community, and we're looking forward to building on the connections made in Cardiff.

Explore the MT Cymraeg collection and discover authentic Welsh music created for screen.