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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
Sound Design
Cue Creation
Metadata
Reelcrafter
Tension Cues
Music Production
Soundcloud
Editing Techniques
Royalties
Investigative Tension Cues
Music Stems
Community Engagement
AI In Music
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes300Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsHow ToArtsEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for 52 Cues

Latest Episodes

In this episode Dave and community mentor Jeff LaPlante break down production music deliverables, including mixes, stems, cutdowns, file naming, metadata, loudness, and the common mistakes that can make an accepted cue harder for libraries and editor... more

In this episode, Dave answers your production music questions including generative AI, following up with libraries, pitching albums professionally, recovering exclusive cues, building a sustainable sync catalog, and why the tools you use matter when ... more

In this episode, Dave pulls back the curtain on 52 Cues with a look inside a cue breakdown, showing how composition, structure, arrangement, and production choices all work together in a finished cue.

Watch this episode on YouTube: youtu.be/... more

In this episode, Dave and Jeff discuss whether loops and samples are lazy, how samples can be transformed into original production music cues, and why legal usage still doesn’t always protect you from Content ID headaches or library concerns.

Watch ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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)
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)
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
Steven McDonald
Full-time production music composer
Episode: How Do You Actually Go Full-Time in Production Music?
Jeff LaPlante
Community mentor and composer
Episode: How Do Composers Find New Libraries?
Randon Purcell
Expert trailer music composer and co-founder of Fallout Music Group
Fallout Music Group
Episode: Let's Talk Trailer Music (with Randon Purcell)
Mary Shaw
Expert in productivity and organization, community mentor for composers
52 Cues
Episode: Do I Just Suck at Workflow?

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
#173
United Kingdom/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#202
Canada/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#249
Australia/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#22
Finland/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#46
Ukraine/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#86
Austria/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Inside the Production Pipeline of Warner Chappell
Q: What does a typical day look like in Warner Chappell Production Music, and what does executive producing mean in this space?
A day involves managing a pipeline with multiple moving parts—from interfacing with composers and producers to overseeing mixing, mastering, artwork, and metadata, along with data quality control. Executive producing here means keeping the creative on track while coordinating resources, sometimes getting hands-on with recording or editing, and ensuring deliverables meet clients' needs.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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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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52 Cues launched 4 years ago and published 300 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. Chuck Henry
2. Alan Lazar
3. Jesse Carrigan
4. Dave Milne
5. Tim Mosher
6. Steven McDonald
7. Jeff LaPlante
8. Randon Purcell

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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