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Artwork for 52 Cues

52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast

Dave Kropf
Production Music
Sync Licensing
Music Composition
Music Libraries
Library Music
Collaboration
Metadata
Sound Design
Cue Creation
Music Production
Reelcrafter
Tension Cues
Soundcloud
Editing Techniques
AI In Music
Royalties
Investigative Tension Cues
Music Stems
Community Engagement
Tasking Cues

Hosted by working composer and long-time professor Dave Kropf, the 52 Cues Podcast takes you inside the real world of production music, library music, and sync licensing – breaking down cues, unpacking industry insights, and sharing candid conversations with fellow composers and publishers.

Weekly episodes deliver practical strategies, creative inspiration, and insider information to help you la... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes304Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsEducationArtsHow To

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for 52 Cues

Latest Episodes

• Weekly Feedback - Week 28

my.52cues.com/posts/weekly-feedback-weekly-feedback-week-28

• Free Workshop! From Sketch To Screen (with Jeff Hargrove)

my.52cues.com/events/from-sketch-to-screen-with-jeff-hargrove

• Live Feedback and Crit... more

In this episode, community mentor Jeff Hargrove explains why a simple piano sketch can make writing cues easier before production takes over.

Watch this episode on YouTube: youtu.be/xXiCWzwo3TU

Be sure to join us for Jeff's free Sketch to S... more

In this episode, Dave and community mentor Jeff LaPlante share their most-used instruments, tools, plugins, and effects to help production music composers build a dependable toolkit without wasting money on plugins you might not really need.

Watch t... more

In this episode, Philip Johnston returns to explain how Orchestration Recipes makes complex concepts more practical, what Volume 6 brings to everyday orchestral writing, and where AI may fit into the future of composition and virtual performance.

Or... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Philip Johnston
Purveyor of Orchestration Recipe, composer, classically trained pianist
Orchestration Recipes
Episode: How to Learn Orchestration Without Feeling Overwhelmed
Jeff LaPlante
Community mentor and guest on this episode
52 Cues
Episode: Is Using Loops "Lazy?"
Chuck Henry
CEO of 10 West Music, publisher, producer and composer
10 West Music
Episode: Brutally Honest Advice from a Library CEO (Chuck Henry, 10 West Music)
Greg Fellman
Community mentor at 52 Cues
52 Cues
Episode: Stop Pitching and Start Building Relationships
Alan Lazar
Veteran TV, film, and production music composer; vice chair of the Production Music Association; founder of Track Trove AI
APM (Lazar Focused); Track Trove AI; PMA
Episode: Can AI Help Get Your Cues Signed? (with Alan Lazar)
Mary Shaw
Community mentor on productivity and workflow, specializes in SOPs
52 Cues community
Episode: Composers, You Need a Second Brain
Jesse Carrigan
Longtime 52 Cues member, designer/developer of Cuemonic
Cuemonic
Episode: Stop Using Spreadsheets for Metadata with Cuemonic
Dave Milne
Head of Production at Warner Chappell Production Music
Warner Chappell Production Music
Episode: Inside the Production Pipeline of Warner Chappell
Tim Mosher
Co-founder of the Evil Genius team and composer for Greatest Average American
Edwards/Mosher team
Episode: What It Takes to Score a Network Game Show

Host

Dave Kropf
Host of the show, working composer and professor of music production; prominent figure in the PM community

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 46 ratings
  • The worlds best

    This is without doubt the worlds best podcast covering the business of production music.

    If you find the way Dave teaches good, then I will suggest you join 52cues as I did.

    See you there!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Landersen61
    Denmark2 years ago
  • Love this show!

    Great content great interviews there’s always something new to learn!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sourcefor
    United States3 years ago
  • Top Resource

    One of the best, most informative resources on production music out there.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michal Sinka
    Switzerland4 years ago
  • This is perfect!!!

    Exactly what I needed. You are doing such an amazing job with this content. It is so helpful and is helping me personally tremendously. Please do not stop. God bless you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ilia alania
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Thoughtful, practical guidance for landing placements and building a sustainable PM career.
Strong emphasis on real-world workflows and professional accountability in submissions.
Listeners appreciate candid, mentor-style advice and the focus on long-term relationship-building in the industry.
High-quality guests and actionable insights across publishing, licensing, and tooling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#128
United Kingdom/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#144
Canada/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#225
France/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#245
Germany/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#250
Australia/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#18
Finland/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Your Cue Got Accepted! Don't Blow the Deliverables.
Q: Now, Jeff, do you have any different experience with stems or your libraries? Do they ask for anything different than what I've been talking about so far?
Jeff shares that while stems are usually instrument groupings rather than every isolated track, editors want flexibility to reassemble the mix for different uses, and sometimes special stems like a no symbol or impact mix are requested for specific placements; practical tips include keeping mastering chains intact and ensuring the stems align with the full mix.
Dave Answers Your Production Music Questions
Q: How many libraries am I with now?
Dave shares numbers indicating around nine to ten libraries with cues placed, and actively servicing about four to six libraries, with ongoing collaboration through the Sync Accelerator and briefing room to distribute work more widely.
Stop Using Spreadsheets for Metadata with Cuemonic
Q: Give us the elevator pitch. What is Cuemonic and who is it for?
Cuemonic is a focused, small tool designed to manage metadata for production music, artists, and songwriters. It's built to be easy to integrate into existing workflows and to generate starter metadata using AI, which users can edit, saving time and reducing the friction of cataloging cues for publishers.
Inside the Production Pipeline of Warner Chappell
Q: How should composers approach pitching to libraries—what makes a fast-track vs. a slow process?
A fast track comes when there is ready-to-go material with high production value that fits an immediate need; otherwise, it's timing and fit with clients' catalogs. A concise pitch with a few cues and a clear concept can help, but broader needs may require discussion on pricing and rights later.
Inside the Production Pipeline of Warner Chappell
Q: What qualities do you look for when reviewing submissions?
Prioritize production value and the ability to deliver like a producer as well as a composer; look for a clear wheelhouse or 'superpower' and the ability to present a coherent sound palette, along with strong formatting and usability in library contexts.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About 52 Cues

What is 52 Cues about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers practical, experience-driven conversations about production music, library workflows, and sync licensing. Across episodes, listeners hear real-world strategies for landing placements, improving metadata and delivery, and navigating industry shifts such as AI, publishing, and changing library ecosystems. A standout aspect is the mix of practitioner-focused tips, library-facing best practices, and candid career guidance from composers, publishers, and platform leaders, making it a valuable resource for anyone pursuing a sustainable career in production music or seeking sponsorship opportunities with a data-driven, artist-facing podcast.

Note: This description extrapolates from recent episodes to reflect ongoing themes, includ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to 52 Cues?

These podcasts share a similar audience with 52 Cues:

1. The Make Music Income Podcast
2. TAXI TV
3. Music Is My Business Podcast | Sync Licensing for Producers
4. Sync Licensing Minute
5. Word In Your Ear

How many episodes of 52 Cues are there?

52 Cues launched 4 years ago and published 304 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on 52 Cues?

Recent guests on 52 Cues include:

1. Philip Johnston
2. Jeff LaPlante
3. Chuck Henry
4. Greg Fellman
5. Alan Lazar
6. Mary Shaw
7. Jesse Carrigan
8. Dave Milne

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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